Sunak’s smoking ‘legacy’ goes up in flames 

When Rishi Sunak announced his decision to call a July election, he used his rain-soaked speech to list his apparent achievements in office. This included his plans for a ‘smoke-free generation’:

We set out a comprehensive plan to reform our welfare system to make it fair to those who pay for it as well as those who need it. Immigration is finally coming down and we will stop the boats with our Rwanda partnership. We will ensure that the next generation grows up smoke free. I hope that my work since I became Prime Minister shows that we have a plan and are prepared to take the bold action necessary for our country to flourish.

Only did Sunak speak a little too soon? Ahead of the dissolution of parliament next Thursday, MPs are in a race against time to pass outstanding pieces of legislation into law. This traditional pre-election exercise is known as the ‘wash-up’, with ministers usually relying on the cooperation of the Opposition to secure approval for new laws. Bills are often either dropped or shortened to ensure they are approved in some form.