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Government plans to ban young people from being able to legally smoke have been backed by MPs.
The Commons voted in favor of Rishi Sunak’s Tobacco and Vaping Bill in its first parliamentary review, but the Prime Minister faced opposition from his own ministers.
The bill, which divided Conservative MPs, would make it illegal to sell tobacco products to people born after January 1, 2009.
It passed on second reading on Tuesday night by a vote of 383 votes to 67, giving the government a comfortable majority.
If the bill passes, children under the age of 15 will currently not be able to legally purchase cigarettes.
In the face of pressure from his own MPs, Mr Sunak allowed a “free vote” on the issue, usually reserved as a matter of conscience. This means Conservative MPs who do not vote in favor of the bill will not be punished.
Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch was the first to announce her intention to vote against the bill, saying she had “serious concerns” about legislation that “provides special treatment to legally competent adults”.
“Among other reasons, there will be difficulties in enforcement. This burden will be placed on private companies rather than the state,” Badenoch said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said she could not support the policy in its current form.
She said she hopes lawmakers will “enact legislation that is more likely to actually deter young smokers without taking away adults’ freedom of choice.”
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick also opposed the bill, saying he supported “individual freedoms”.
“I also believe in the principle of equality before the law. A gradual smoking ban would be an affront to that. Therefore, I will vote against the Tobacco and Vaping Bill,” he said.
Several Conservative Party leaders, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, said they did not support the bill due to concerns about personal freedom of choice.
In the House of Commons, former Conservative leader and prime minister Ms Truss claimed the ban was the result of a “technocratic regime” aimed at “restricting people’s freedoms”.
But other former Conservative cabinet ministers, including former health secretary Sir Sajid Javid, supported the plan.
Sir Sajid accused his colleagues of “choosing to stand up for Big Tobacco against the interests of their constituents”.
Conservative health committee chairman Steve Brine suggested small state Conservatives should support measures that would remove the burden on taxpayers.
“If you’re a Conservative and you like a smaller state…you’re quick to support a healthier society, a society with less need for the state, less dependence on the state, and less cost to the state.” It should,” he said.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said she understood her colleagues’ concerns about freedom of choice, and acknowledged the Conservatives were “not in the habit of banning things”, but warned the House of Commons that “addictions don’t have freedom”. No,” he warned.
Labor supports the bill, meaning it is likely to pass despite Conservative opposition.
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said his party supported the plan “wholeheartedly” and said he was “very happy to defend the Health Secretary from the siren voice of big tobacco”.