Rishi Sunak’s proposal to ban young people from ever being able to legally smoke tobacco has cleared its first Commons hurdle.
The proposal passed despite a swathe of Conservative MPs voting against it.
MPs voted 383 to 67, majority of 316, to give the Tobacco and Vapes Bill a second reading.
Conservative MP for Gloucester Richard Graham has said the tobacco and vapes Bill is a “huge credit” to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The proposal from Sunak passed in the commons
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He told the Commons: “I think it’s huge credit to this Prime Minister that he has set out a vision with clarity, pursues it with determination, and is absolutely clear that where this House to vote this through, this would be part of whatever legacy he in the future leaves as a politician keen to make a difference.”
Conservative MP for Don Valley Nick Fletcher told the Commons: “Is it more evidence of the creation of that nanny state? I believe so.
“If we take more and more decisions away from adults, then more adults will continually rely more and more on the state to make decisions for them. This is not a good thing and sadly will only create more powerful Governments and weaker individuals.”
He added: “I want our society to help raise warriors as I believe going forward we are going to need as many as we can find, smokers or not.”
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Nick Fletcher MP slammed the result
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Later in the debate Conservative MP for Leigh James Grundy said he would support the Bill but wanted to see stricter action taken against illegal sale of tobacco and vapes.
He said: “I say the Government should go further, the Government must go further. I think if someone is selling illegal tobacco and vapes they should be held accountable.
“If someone was selling, for example, beer or spirits made out of turpentine or toilet water, people would be outraged and there would be a demand for action, but that is happening day in day out, week in week out with illegal and counterfeit tobacco and vapes.”
Following the Commons vote, Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), said: “Parliament has today begun the process of consigning smoking to the ‘ash heap’ of history. However, this is only the first step, the Bill must now go through committee and another vote before going through the same process in the House of Lords.
She added: “The passage of the Bill should be expedited to ensure it is on the statute book before the general election.
“The public, who overwhelmingly support the legislation, expect nothing less.”
