Rishi Sunak warned of 50-strong Tory MP rebellion over new anti-smoking policy
Rishi Sunak announces crackdown on smoking
Rishi Sunak is facing a second major Tory rebellion in the Commons, with as many as 50 MPs set to vote against his flagship smoking ban. The ban, unveiled in Mr Sunak’s October conference speech, follows New Zealand in raising the minimum smoking age by one year every year, meaning a 14-year-old in Britain will never be able to legally buy a cigarette.
However the Government was humiliated last week when New Zealand’s new right-wing Government reversed the left-wing policy on the grounds it would create a black market for tobacco. The New Zealand government also warned that banning cigarettes would create a major tax black hole, and reversing the policy would create room for tax cuts.
Following the Antipodean U-turn, Senior Tory Sir John Hayes demanded a major rethink, calling it “evidently unworkable, impractical and deeply unconservative”. Now the Express understands a significant number of Tory MPs, as many as 50, are preparing to rebel against the policy, whenever the Government brings the vote before the Commons.
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Sir John told the Express that “momentum is growing among MPs”, and that “more and more MPs just don’t believe it is practical, nor conservative”. He said: “I wouldn’t want to put a number on the size of the rebellion but since New Zealand repealed their generational ban, a caucus of rebel MPs have now become a herd.
“At the very least, I see the potential for a carve-out for cigars, heated tobacco and shisha. Rishi is someone who takes his time to come to a decision. More and more MPs will hope he begins to see sense on this.”
A former No. 10 adviser also criticised Mr Sunak’s flagship health policy, warning the PM that the number of MPs raising concerns privately “is undoubtedly much higher than those criticising the policy in public”. Following Mr Sunak’s first defeat in the Commons last night, over payments to those affected by the infected blood scandal, the source warned: “No10 will not want to alienate MPs even further after what has been a tough few months for Rishi.
“MPs are desperate to see true conservative leadership and this blanket generational ban sits badly with many MPs. This may end up becoming a fight Rishi ultimately views as not worth having.”
Following New Zealand’s U-turn on the unconservative policy, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said the “position remains unchanged” and would not be following Wellington’s lead. We are committed to that. This is an important long-term decision and step to deliver a smoke-free generation which remains critically important.”
The free market Institute for Economic Affairs said Mr Sunak “now stands alone, carrying the torch of a policy dreamt up by Jacinda Ardern at the fag-end of a Labour government on the other side of the world”.
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