Health Secretary Victoria Atkins defends Rishi Sunak's smoking ban, stating it aligns with efforts to reduce smoking rates and protect public health. She argues that raising the legal age for buying cigarettes will benefit the NHS. Despite some Tory rebels opposing the ban, Atkins asserts it is a conservative measure and suggests Winston Churchill would have supported it. However, former health secretary Lord Clarke warns of enforcement challenges for the smoking ban. Tobacco firms are lobbying MPs to oppose Sunak's plan, while vaping firms are funding a group of MPs to resist regulations on their industry.
Downing Street braced for smoking ban snub from dozens of Tory MPs https://t.co/SC2dAaVTFH
🧵 Vaping firms are funding a new pressure group of MPs attempting to water down plans to regulate the industry amid concerns about its impact on children’s health 🔴 Exclusive from @alexxaphillips: https://t.co/CcwqhYaPpe https://t.co/a3AEdR7yoD
‘As a champion of liberty and someone who opposed stare interference, I think Churchill probably would be opposed to the smoking ban.’ Historian and Broadcaster, Rafe Heydel-Mankoo, shares his thoughts on how Churchill would have reacted to Sunak's smoking ban. https://t.co/yOaaLvd1OW
EXCL: Tobacco firms are lobbying MPs to derail Rishi Sunak’s flagship policy to phase out smoking, head of Britain’s biggest cancer charity tells @andrewgregory https://t.co/pxWdqjXmKi
Smoking ban will be difficult to enforce as people age, Lord Clarke warns Rishi Sunak https://t.co/LeyIjhOdKI
Tobacco firms lobbying MPs to derail smoking phase-out, charity warns https://t.co/MTJGxGdVwI
Vape shops should be licenced like alcohol outlets to tackle child nicotine addiction, MPs say https://t.co/q7yjQfOn1w https://t.co/DSQ4bfS9bZ
🚭 Former health secretary Lord Clarke has warned Rishi Sunak that his flagship smoking ban could be difficult to enforce https://t.co/lSVz4gN1ch
🚨 EXC: Churchill would have backed Sunak’s smoking ban, suggests Health Secretary Victoria Atkins insists policy is ‘profoundly Conservative’ as dozens of MPs prepare to rebel https://t.co/9tfVSqEymP
Cogent defence of smoke-free generation legislation from @VictoriaAtkins. Smoking is a killer in itself, and contributes to poor health. Good point that vast majority of smokers are trying to give up, so stopping kids from smoking seem reasonable. #HealthNation https://t.co/a99vR5tBVr
Cigar-chomping PM Winston Churchill would have supported smoking ban, says Health Secretary Victoria Atkins as Tory rebels say planned new law is 'un-conservative' https://t.co/vnoQyxkXmk https://t.co/wHv1dLpsje
'This is very much in line with what we've already done as a society to try and help people off smoking' Health Secretary Victoria Atkins defends Rishi Sunak's controversial smoking ban. https://t.co/zmcOKNEQVs
"We just want to stop our children from buying [cigarettes], and protecting children is a very conservative value" Health Secretary Victoria Atkins says continually raising the legal age of buying cigarettes will "reduce the demand on the NHS" #BBCLauraK https://t.co/FaCPy1l8bV https://t.co/iGmCtveUfI
🚬 Churchill would have backed Sunak’s smoking ban, suggests Health Secretary https://t.co/NZxG6TKAJx