PM s Smoking Ban Clears Its First Commons Hurdle Despite Tory Backlash

Rishi Sunak's proposed smoking ban cleared its first parliamentary hurdle tonight as MPs voted by 383 to 67 to give their backing to the Prime Minister's plans.

The House of Commons this evening overwhelmingly approved the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to phase in a ban on the sale of tobacco products.

Mr Sunak, who views the ban as a key part of his long-term legacy, had allowed MPs a free vote on the issue.

But he will still be rocked by the fact 59 Tory MPs - including six Government ministers - actively opposed his plans, while many more abstained from voting.

A total of 165 Conservative MPs failed to back the PM's Bill tonight, which was just under half the total of 347 Tory MPs in the Commons.

After the vote, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting swiped that it was 'only thanks to Labour MPs' that Mr Sunak saw his plans approved by the Commons.

'Rishi Sunak put this Bill at risk by granting a free vote, because he is too weak to stand https://bangcacloai.com/ up to the Liz Truss-wing of his party,' he said,

'Labour first proposed a progressive ban on smoking more than a year ago, and it was only thanks to Labour MPs that this Bill passed.'





Rishi Sunak's proposed smoking ban cleared its first parliamentary hurdle tonight as MPs voted by 383 to 67 to give their backing to the Prime Minister's plans







The Conservative rebellion tonight came after key figures on the Tory Right spoke out against the Bill.

They were led by Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who earlier became the first of Mr Sunak's ministers to confirm they would vote against the smoking ban.