How many MPs will reject Sunak’s smoking ban?

A fag-end measure for a fag-end government? That’s how Labour are keen to present Rishi Sunak’s plans to stop young people born after 2008 from ever being legally allowed to smoke. The Commons will tonight debate the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, with Tory MPs being granted a rare free vote. With dozens of Conservatives expected to vote against the legislation, Wes Streeting and others are keen to depict themselves as riding to Sunak’s rescue by lending him Labour votes.

‘Rishi Sunak might be weak but Labour will not allow the Liz Truss wing of the Conservative Party to choke off the Smoking Bill today’, the Shadow Health Secretary tweeted this morning. ‘We will give our full support to this Bill so that the next generation are even less likely to smoke than they are to vote Conservative.’ With Labour backing the change and the bulk of the government offering their support, the legislation should become law later this year.