Reform leads opposition to tobacco sales ban, Tories divided
Friday, March 21, 2025 at 14:27 Update to Wednesday's post about the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Led by Nigel Farage, Reform UK has tabled an amendment to remove the generational ban on selling tobacco products to people born on or after 1 January 2009.
Labour's huge majority means it is doomed to fail but it will hopefully be debated on the floor of the House of Commons during the report stage on Wednesday (March 26).
Fair play to Farage and Reform for at least tabling the amendment, something the Tories have failed to do despite Kemi Badenoch's opposition to the Bill.
Unfortunately the Conservative Party is hopelessly split on the issue, but if it goes to a vote it will be interesting to see how many Tory MPs support Reform’s amendment.
Likewise the amendment I mentioned in an earlier post that would replace the generational ban in favour of raising the legal sale of tobacco from 18 to 21.
That amendment has been tabled by the DUP's Sammy Wilson with the support of Conservative grandee Sir John Hayes.
Realistically, given the numbers, both amendments will fall but at least the Bill will face some opposition in the Commons before it moves on to the House of Lords.
Reader Comments (1)
Good to see Reform come out against extremist legislation like this that will inevitably criminalise people for smoking for the first time in centuries.
Only fools, charlatans and bullies think that by making smoking illegal that it will stop people from doing it.
It is intended to criminalise smokers and replace revenue, handed over to organised crime, with fines and penalties for anyone caught on the wrong side of the ban.
It's discriminatory, morally wrong because it punishes the poor most of all, and useless because it will not work as intended. It is only supported by smokerphobics who despise either smoking or smokers and those who are too blind or willfully ignorant to see the long term damage they are causing.
It is absolutely brilliant though for the vested interests in tobacco control and activists in public health who want to keep their fat salaries and research funding rolling in.