Tory rebels are already breaking rank over the forthcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, ahead of what may be one of Rishi Sunak’s biggest civil wars since becoming Prime Minister.
While Mr Sunak has been touring TV studios promoting a new ban on disposable vapes, Conservative MPs are bracing to once again cause havoc for their leader by voting against the flagship plan.
In December, the Express revealed as many as 50 Tory MPs are planning to vote against the major legislation, with Sir John Hayes leading the charge calling the Bill “evidently unworkable, impractical and deeply unconservative”.
Downing Street is now understood to be preparing to make the vote a ‘free vote’, meaning MPs would be allowed to vote with their conscience without fear of punishment by the party whips.
In light of this, last night the Sun reported that more than 20 serving ministers may join the rebellion, regarding the policy with “deep suspicion”, and labelling them the “baccystabbers”.
This week Liz Truss joined the rebels, branding the forthcoming ban as “profoundly unconservative”.
She said: “While the state has a duty to protect children from harm, in a free society, adults must be able to make their own choices about their own lives.
“Banning the sale of tobacco products to anyone born in 2009 or later will create an absurd situation where adults enjoy different rights based on their birthdate.
“A Conservative Government should not be seeking to extend the nanny state. This will only give succour to those who wish to ban further choices of which they don’t approve.
The former PM pointed out that the newly-elected right-wing Government in New Zealand has already announced plans to reverse Jacinda Arden’s nannying ban on tobacco, upon which Rishi Sunak based his policy.
Mr Sunak hit back at his predecessor, responding: “I don’t think there’s anything unconservative about caring about our children’s health.”
Many of his colleagues disagree, however. This afternoon Sir John Hayes told the Express that the notion of continuing to raise the minimum smoking age year on year is “unwelcome because it is wholly unworkable”.
He added: “Just imagine the nonsense of being lawfully permitted to smoke aged 40, but not aged 39! How on earth would such a policy be enforced?”
Fellow Tory MP Andrew Lower is leading the charge against the vape ban, warning it will create fewer routes for those smokers hoping to quit.
He told the Express: “I am concerned that the Government is planning to restrict vape flavours”.
“This would risk abandoning the UK’s world-leading science-led approach, and thus put at risk existing smokers who will have fewer routes to quitting. This is on top of the Government’s plan to phase out other less harmful alternatives to smoking.
“We are all worried about youth vaping rates but that should not be confused with giving adults every option to help them stop smoking.”
