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MPs to vote on Rishi Sunak's smoking ban bill MPs to vote on Rishi Sunak's smoking ban bill
(about 1 hour later)
MPs are to debate plans for some of the world's toughest anti-tobacco laws. Plans to stop young people born since 2009 ever smoking are to be debated and voted on later.
Rishi Sunak wants to make Generation Alpha, born since 2009, the UK's first smoke-free generation in a major public health intervention. Rishi Sunak's bill aims to create the UK's first smoke-free generation in a major public health intervention.
Anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from ever buying cigarettes under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which also makes vapes less appealing to children. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would ensure anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettes, and also aims to make vapes less appealing to children.
A number of Tory MPs have told the BBC they won't back the bill.A number of Tory MPs have told the BBC they won't back the bill.
Conservative MPs will get a free vote on it so they won't be ordered to vote with the government, but the bill is likely to pass as it has Labour and Lib Dem support. Conservative MPs will get a free vote on it so they won't be ordered to vote with the government, but the bill is likely to pass as it has Labour support.
The bill would make the sale of tobacco products, rather than the act of smoking, illegal.The bill would make the sale of tobacco products, rather than the act of smoking, illegal.
Tobacco use is the UK's single biggest preventable cause of death, killing two-thirds of long-term users and causing 80,000 deaths every year.Tobacco use is the UK's single biggest preventable cause of death, killing two-thirds of long-term users and causing 80,000 deaths every year.
On top of that, a patient is admitted to hospital with a smoking-related condition, such as heart disease, strokes and lung cancer, almost every minute in England.On top of that, a patient is admitted to hospital with a smoking-related condition, such as heart disease, strokes and lung cancer, almost every minute in England.
Supporting the ban, England's chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty said once people become addicted to smoking "their choice is taken away".
"If you are in favour of choice you should be against something that takes away people's choice.
"When I was a junior doctor doing surgery I remember the tragedy of seeing people, whose legs had had to be cut off because of the smoking that had damaged their arteries, outside the hospital weeping as they lit up because they were trapped by addiction - that is not choice."
A quick guide to smoking bans across the worldA quick guide to smoking bans across the world
Will Rishi Sunak's plan to ban smoking in UK work?Will Rishi Sunak's plan to ban smoking in UK work?
How dangerous is vaping and how will the disposable vape ban work?How dangerous is vaping and how will the disposable vape ban work?
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the bill would save thousands of lives and "ease the strain" on the NHS. Tory MP Sir Simon Clarke, who served in Liz Truss and Boris Johnson's cabinets, said he did not support the move.
She said: "Too many people know someone whose life has been tragically cut short or irreversibly changed because of smoking, which despite significant progress remains the UK's biggest preventable killer. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was far better to focus on education and the tax system to deter young people from smoking, rather than enforcing an outright ban.
"The truth is that there is no safe level of tobacco consumption. It is uniquely harmful and that is why we are taking this important action today to protect the next generation." "[An outright ban] risks making smoking cooler, it certainly risks creating a black market, and it also risks creating an unmanageable problem for the authorities," he said.
Under the plans, trading standards officers would get new powers to issue on-the-spot £100 fines to shops selling tobacco or vapes to children, with all the money raised going towards further enforcement.Under the plans, trading standards officers would get new powers to issue on-the-spot £100 fines to shops selling tobacco or vapes to children, with all the money raised going towards further enforcement.
There would also be new restrictions on flavours, packaging and the sale of vapes to make them less appealing to children.There would also be new restrictions on flavours, packaging and the sale of vapes to make them less appealing to children.
Figures show that one in five children has tried vaping despite it being illegal for under-18s, while the number of children using vapes has tripled in the past three years.Figures show that one in five children has tried vaping despite it being illegal for under-18s, while the number of children using vapes has tripled in the past three years.
'A game-changer''A game-changer'
The bill is being given its second reading on Tuesday, which is the first opportunity for MPs to debate and vote on the broad issue, before more detailed scrutiny takes place in further stages.The bill is being given its second reading on Tuesday, which is the first opportunity for MPs to debate and vote on the broad issue, before more detailed scrutiny takes place in further stages.
With Labour and the Liberal Democrats backing the bill, it's almost certain to become law later this year. With Labour backing the bill, it's almost certain to become law later this year.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'I've seen the health impacts of smoking tobacco, there's no good outcome, it's always bad, it's the leading cause of preventable death in our country." Lib Dem MPs have a free vote on the bill, and speaking to BBC Breakfast, the party leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'I've seen the health impacts of smoking tobacco, there's no good outcome, it's always bad, it's the leading cause of preventable death in our country."
Some Tory MPs object to the plan because they believe it is unworkable, others because they say it's un-Conservative. Some MPs intend to try to amend the legislation further along in the process.Some Tory MPs object to the plan because they believe it is unworkable, others because they say it's un-Conservative. Some MPs intend to try to amend the legislation further along in the process.
Opponents include former prime ministers Boris Johnson, who has called the plans "barmy", and Liz Truss, who is expected to warn against "banning things" in the Commons debate. Opponents include former prime ministers Mr Johnson, who has called the plans "barmy", and Ms Truss, who is expected to warn against "banning things" in the Commons debate.
Ms Truss told the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason that plans to phase out smoking over time were "unconservative". Ms Truss told the BBC's political editor Chris Mason that plans to phase out smoking over time were "unconservative".
She said "we should absolutely protect children from damage and danger while they are developing decision-making capabilities", but added: "We're a free country.She said "we should absolutely protect children from damage and danger while they are developing decision-making capabilities", but added: "We're a free country.
"We shouldn't be telling people not to smoke and I worry about where it will lead.""We shouldn't be telling people not to smoke and I worry about where it will lead."
As this would be a free vote, Tory MPs voting against the bill or abstaining would not be considered as rebelling.As this would be a free vote, Tory MPs voting against the bill or abstaining would not be considered as rebelling.
But it would still be embarrassing - and potentially problematic - for Mr Sunak if a sizeable chunk of his party chose not to back his policy.But it would still be embarrassing - and potentially problematic - for Mr Sunak if a sizeable chunk of his party chose not to back his policy.
Another Tory MP who opposes the bill is Sir Simon Clarke, an ally of Ms Truss who served in her cabinet in 2022. The proposed legislation will grant Scotland the appropriate powers needed to enact the bill, but the Scottish Parliament will then need to give its consent via a vote in Holyrood at a later date.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was far better to focus on education and the tax system to deter young people from smoking, rather than enforcing an outright ban. Scotland's Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said the Scottish government wanted to create a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034.
"[An outright ban] risks making smoking cooler, it certainly risks creating a black market, and it also risks creating an unmanageable problem for the authorities," he said. Luke Tryl, director of research organisation More in Common UK, told the Today programme there was widespread public support for the bill, particularly among 2019 Conservative voters.
But Luke Tryl, director of research organisation More in Common UK, told the same programme there was widespread public support for the bill, particularly among 2019 Conservative voters.
"People like the government taking tough measures, particularly on public health and things that affect children and young people," he said."People like the government taking tough measures, particularly on public health and things that affect children and young people," he said.
Health organisations and charities have lined up to urge MPs to support the bill, including Dr Charmaine Griffiths, British Heart Foundation chief executive, who said the law would be a "game-changer". Health organisations and charities have lined up to urge MPs to support the bill, including Dr Charmaine Griffiths, British Heart Foundation chief executive, who said the law would be a "game-changer". 
She added: "Decisive action is needed to end this ongoing public health tragedy - we urge every MP to vote for this landmark legislation."She added: "Decisive action is needed to end this ongoing public health tragedy - we urge every MP to vote for this landmark legislation."
Professor Steve Turner, president of the Royal College for Paediatrics and Child Health, said the change would undoubtedly save lives. Would your child be affected by the smoking ban bill? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
He said: "By stopping children and young people from becoming addicted to nicotine and tobacco we decrease their chances of developing preventable diseases later in life, and will protect children from the harms of nicotine addiction." Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
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