By Gabriel Princewill-
The UK Parliament has backed a proposal championed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to prohibit anyone born after 2009 from purchasing cigarettes.
Despite facing opposition from within the Conservative Party, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill passed with resounding support, setting the stage for one of the world’s strictest smoking laws.
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The initiative, endorsed by Health Secretary Victoria Atkins as a means to create a “smoke-free generation,” has ignited a fierce debate over personal freedom and government intervention.
While proponents argue that the ban is essential for safeguarding public health and preventing young people from falling prey to addiction, detractors, including former Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson, decry it as an encroachment on individual liberties.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Atkins emphasized the detrimental impact of nicotine addiction, asserting that “there is no liberty in addiction.” The bill, modeled after similar legislation in New Zealand, aims to address the pervasive public health crisis posed by tobacco use, which claims tens of thousands of lives annually and burdens healthcare systems with smoking-related illnesses.
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However, dissent within the Conservative Party, including notable figures like Truss and Johnson, accentuates the deep-seated divisions over the role of government in regulating personal behaviour.
A sizeable number of 106 tories either abstained or were absent, leaving 178 (51%) backing the bill.
Opponents included Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary; Suella Braverman, the former home secretary; and Robert Jenrick, the former Home Office minister.
The former prime minister Liz Truss also voted against the legislation along with several serving ministers: Alex Burghart, the Cabinet Office minister; Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland minister; Julia Lopez, the culture minister; Lee Rowley, the communities minister; and Andrew Griffith, the science minister.
Truss cautioned against infantilizing individuals and questioned the efficacy of restricting adult freedoms, sentiments echoed by several Tory MPs.
Former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick expressed reservations about the bill, citing his belief in personal freedom and equality under the law.
Similarly, Sir Jake Berry voiced concerns about governmental overreach, advocating for a society where individuals are free to make their own choices, even if they entail risks.
In response to these objections, Atkins reiterated the imperative of combating nicotine addiction, particularly among the youth, who are disproportionately impacted by the harmful effects of smoking.
Citing statistics that highlight the prevalence of smoking initiation during adolescence, she underscored the necessity of proactive measures to deter young people from adopting this deadly habit.
Supporters of the bill, including Labour’s shadow health and social secretary Wes Streeting, lauded the government’s efforts to prioritize public health and reduce smoking prevalence. Streeting criticized Sunak for granting a free vote on the bill, attributing it to his reluctance to confront dissent within his party.
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