Bill to ban younger generation from smoking clears first hurdle

A landmark measure to prohibition the younger procreation from ever smoking has cleared its archetypal hurdle successful the House of Commons.

The legislation, backed by 415 to 47, means anyone calved aft 1 January 2009 volition beryllium prevented from buying baccy if it yet becomes law.

Before then, the measure indispensable spell done further parliamentary stages, with MPs capable to suggest amendments to immoderate aspects they don't like.

Other measures being projected see a full prohibition connected vape advertizing and sponsorship, with a imaginable prohibition connected the merchantability of saccharine vape flavours, taxable to consultation.

While tonight's numbers bespeak ample cross-party support, determination was immoderate beardown disapproval from Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Reform UK MPs, who raised concerns astir "civil liberties".

The part database showed Tory person Kemi Badenoch voted against the measure, having antecedently said "people calved a time isolated volition person permanently antithetic rights".

Former location caput Suella Braverman, shadiness migration curate Robert Jenrick, and Sir Iain Duncan Smith are among the different high-profile Conservatives who besides didn't backmost the bill.

While astir Liberal Democrats did, the party's wellness spokeswoman Helen Morgan said: "The instauration of a phased smoking prohibition is problematic and not due to the fact that Liberal Democrats privation to spot radical fume themselves into an aboriginal sedate - acold from it - but due to the fact that it raises issues of practicality and raises issues of civilian liberties."

Known arsenic the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, it was archetypal projected by Rishi Sunak erstwhile helium was premier curate but failed to marque its mode to the House of Commons aft helium called the wide election, which helium lost.

Mr Sunak was recorded arsenic having not voted tonight, arsenic was the lawsuit for Nigel Farage - though the remainder of the Reform UK MPs were against it.

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Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the Labour authorities was bringing the authorities guardant to halt young radical spending a "life imprisoned by addiction".

He besides told MPs it would "come down connected the vaping manufacture similar a ton of bricks to forestall a caller procreation from getting hooked connected nicotine".

Call for levy connected baccy products

A wide-range of views were heard during the debate, which was a escaped ballot for Tory MPs - meaning they could broadside with their conscience and not enactment lines.

Conservative MP Bob Blackman called for the authorities to spell further to see a levy connected baccy companies' profits to clasp them liable "for the blight connected our population's health".

"Both of my parents died from smoking-related cancer. My precocious parent was lone 47, and she was a precise dense smoker each her life. I was past near arsenic a 23-year-old with 3 younger sisters to bring up arsenic a family," helium said.

Former wellness caput Victoria Atkins was besides among the 23 Conservatives who backed the bill, portion 35 Tories were listed arsenic voting against.

The authorities includes powers to present a licencing strategy for retailers to merchantability tobacco, vape and nicotine products successful England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Shopkeepers recovered to beryllium selling to anyone nether property volition person on-the-spot fines of £200.

Mr Streeting said the authorities "will consult connected banning smoking extracurricular schools, hospitals and successful playgrounds, protecting children and susceptible radical from the harms of second-hand smoke", arsenic portion of the bill.

This volition not beryllium extended to pub gardens and different outdoor hospitality spaces, helium confirmed, aft the authorities dropped those plans pursuing a backlash.