Politics latest news: Sunak’s smoking ban ‘infantilises people’, Liz Truss claims

Liz Truss has claimed that Rishi Sunak’s flagship plan to ban smoking “effectively infantilises people”, as she joined a Tory revolt against it. 

MPs are debating the Government’s proposals in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which includes a progressive ban on smoking and would outlaw disposable vapes.

The former prime minister, who labelled the Government the “health police” over its proposals, said: “It is very important that until people have decision-making capability while they are growing up that we protect them. 

“But I think the whole idea that we can protect adults from themselves is hugely problematic and it effectively infantilises people, and that is what has been going on.”

She added that she was “disappointed” in the Government, adding: “My fear is this is not the final stage that the health police want to push. People want to make their own decisions about what they eat and what they drink and how they enjoy themselves.”

The Bill will be put to a free vote tonight, which means Cabinet members and ordinary Tory MPs can vote against Mr Sunak’s plan without facing any disciplinary action.

The Prime Minister faces a rebellion over the smoking ban from MPs who have argued that it would impinge on personal freedoms.

Under the proposed ban, someone aged 15 now who was born on or after Jan 1 2009 will never legally be allowed to buy tobacco.

It would effectively raise the legal age for buying cigarettes in England by one year every year until it applies to the whole population.

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