Smoking ban passed by MPs in Britain

November 26, 2024
MPs Overwhelmingly Approve Smoking Ban Following Rishi Sunak's Setback

After Rishi Sunak's historic bill failed to pass before the general election, MPs finally enacted the long-awaited smoking ban this evening.

Passed by a resounding 415 to 47 majority, the strengthened law now goes further on advertising and vaping than the Tories' original draft did.

Keir Starmer did give in to draft suggestions to outlaw smoking in bar beer gardens, despite the fact that the laws are the strictest in the world, when the industry warned that it would cripple them.

Speaking in the debate last night, Health Secretary Wes Streeting endorsed plans to ban smoking in certain outdoor spaces including playgrounds, and outside hospitals and schools.

He argued: "A new generation of children are getting hooked on nicotine, and there should be no doubt about the cause and no illusions that this has happened by accident."

He added: "This is an industry that has cynically targeted its harmful products to kids. Action is long overdue. We promised to stamp this out in our manifesto, and this Bill delivers the change we promised.

"It will close loopholes that allow vapes to be sold or given away to children, provide powers to regulate the flavours, packaging and display of vapes, introduce on the spot fines of £200 for underage sales, and just as we took action on the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products, we will bring the law into line for vaping products too."

Opposition to the legislation was led by Kemi Badenoch, though numerous Tories backed Labour's Bill in the un-whipped vote.

While she did not participate in the debate, a Tory Party spokesman said: "Kemi acted on her convictions in voting against the Bill once before."

"Now Labour have made a bad Bill even worse and she will be voting against it once again."

A Savanta poll suggests the core aim of the bill, to prevent anyone born after 2009 from being able to legally buy a cigaret, is backed by 59% of voters.

Lifelong smoker Nigel Farage blasted the Bill as 'Cromwellian' on his GB News show, but said he didn't bother voting as it was clear it would pass with an enormous majority.