London (Parliament News) – PM Rishi Sunak urges cabinet to support flagship smoking ban, emphasizing future generations’ well-being. Despite Tory opposition, the proposal is expected to pass in a free vote.
PM Rishi Sunak has insisted his cabinet to think of “future generations” and support his flagship smoking prohibition as he strives to avoid humiliation at the hands of his party. No 10 expressed the prime minister believes that “if we want to create a better future for our children” then the government has to contain a habit that costs 80,000 lives a year.
According to the Independent, Rishi Sunak is braced for more than 50 Tory MPs to disregard his call and vote against the projects, which would discourage those under the age of 15 from ever purchasing cigarettes.
Who will refrain from casting their votes?
The business secretary Kemi Badenoch, the environment secretary Steve Barclay and the Scotland secretary Alister Jack could also refrain when MPs vote on the procedures later, according to reports.Â
Among the high-profile contenders is former prime minister Liz Truss, who has pledged to vote against the Bill, arguing in favour of freedom of choice.
Last week another former prime minister, Boris Johnson, explained the plan as “nuts”.
Does Enforcement Pose a Practical Challenge?
Former health secretary Lord Clarke has cautioned the move risks being challenging to enforce.
“You will get to a stage where if you are 42 years of age, you will be able to buy them but someone aged 41 will not be allowed to,” he informed The Telegraph. “Does that mean you will have to produce your birth certificate? It may prove very difficult to enforce. Future generations will have to see whether it works or not.”
MPs will have a free vote on the prohibition, announced by the PM with great fanfare at last year’s Conservative party conference. The government has determined not to whip the vote, saying it is a case of conscience. It is predicted to pass as it has been backed by Labour.
Is Sunak’s Smoking Ban Initiative Feasible Long-Term?
Asked whether the PM would encourage cabinet ministers to support the policy, his spokesman stated: “He would urge everyone considering the Bill tonight to obviously vote with their conscience, but to consider that the Bill is seeking to ensure that future generations are smoke-free.”
He also expressed the PM’s message”If we want to build a better future for our children, we need to tackle the single biggest entirely preventable cause of ill-health, disability and death, which is smoking…. As the PM has said previously, we respect that people’s attitudes to smoking are a matter of conscience. That’s why the votes on this policy will be free.”
Conservative MP and arch-Sunak critic Sir Simon Clarke stated that Mr Sunak’s plans to prevent young people from ever smoking risk “making smoking cooler” and “creating a black market”.
Doctors and health charities have encouraged MPs to vote in favour of the proposals. Professor Steve Turner, president of the Royal College for Paediatrics and Child Health, stated the Bill would “without a doubt … save lives”, while Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: “Decisive action is needed to end this ongoing public health tragedy”