The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, championed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has passed by 383 votes to 67 in the House of Commons. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins defended the plans, stating that there is no liberty in addiction.
The bill passed by 383 votes to 67, creating a “smoke-free generation” for those born after 2009. However, several Tory MPs, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, voted against the bill, arguing it would limit personal freedom.
Ex-prime minister Boris Johnson called the smoking ban “absolutely nuts” during a Conservative conference in Ottawa, Canada. Conservative MPs were given a free vote on the bill, meaning they were not ordered to vote with the government. Full support by Labour’s front bench ensured the measures passed.
There are still several more steps needed before the bill becomes law, such as votes in the House of Lords, but it is possible that the bill could now become law before the general election, expected in the second half of 2024. Labour’s shadow health and social secretary Wes Streeting accused Mr. Sunak of “putting the bill at risk” by granting a free vote.
The debate on Tuesday was MPs’ first chance to debate the legislation implementing the ban. Ms. Truss, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, and former minister Sir Jake Berry all expressed concerns about the bill. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins defended the bill, arguing that nicotine robs people of their freedom to choose, and that once people become addicted to smoking, their choice is taken away.
