Liz Truss blames ‘unelected’ well being division officers for smoking ban, in obvious jibe at Chris Whitty
Liz Truss has blamed “unelected people” within the Division of Well being and Social Look after the federal government’s deliberate smoking ban, in obvious assault on civil servants such because the chief medical officer for England, Sir Chris Whitty. Ben Quinn has the story right here.
Good morning. When David Cameron appears again on his premiership, one of many issues he did that’s most definitely to be thought to be a optimistic achievement – now and sooner or later – was passing equal marriage laws. But it surely solely went by way of with opposition votes, as a result of greater than half of Conservative MPs opposed it. At this time Rishi Sunak is asking MPs to vote for one more piece of laws which, doubtlessly, may have a transformative impact on life in Britain. And, like Cameron, he’s legislating towards the grain of opinion in his celebration.
As Andrew Gregory and Ben Quinn report in our preview story, Prof Sir Chris Whitty, the federal government’s chief medical adviser, has been wheeled out to make the case for the tobacco and vapes invoice, which might stop anybody who is popping 15 this 12 months, or youthful, from ever with the ability to legally purchase tobacco merchandise and which is getting its second studying as we speak. Sunak’s authorities is just accountable for well being coverage in England, however Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire are set to undertake the laws too.
Labour is backing the invoice, and it appears sure to move.
However Sunak has provided Tories a free vote, on the grounds that this ought to be a “conscience challenge” for his MPs, and dozens of Conservatives are anticipated to abstain or vote towards. Technically this gained’t rely as a rebel, as a result of they gained’t be defying the whip. However, to Sunak, it could really feel like a revolt.
In his Day by day Mail column final week Boris Johnson mentioned the coverage was insane. He wrote:
When the celebration of Winston Churchill desires to ban cigars, donnez-moi un break, as they are saying in Quebec – it’s simply mad.
One other former PM, Liz Truss, informed the BBC yesterday:
We’re a free nation. We shouldn’t be telling individuals to not smoke and I fear about the place it’ll lead.
And on the At this time programme this morning Sir Simon Clarke, levelling up secretary in Truss’s short-lived cupboard, took the identical line. He mentioned:
There are good methods to sort out an issue like this after which there are unhealthy methods, and I believe that an outright ban dangers being counterproductive, I believe it truly dangers making smoking cooler, it definitely dangers making a black market, and it additionally dangers making a unmanageable problem for the authorities.
In keeping with a report within the Day by day Telegraph, greater than 50 Conservative MPs are “making ready” to vote towards the invoice. And the Occasions says two or three cupboard ministers might refuse to assist Sunak. Of their story Chris Smyth and Steven Swinford write:
Two or three cupboard ministers are mentioned to have privately signalled scepticism over the invoice, with [Kemi] Badenoch amongst these unconvinced. She is but to resolve the right way to vote however has beforehand spoken of her discomfort with bans and wrote in The Occasions throughout her 2022 management marketing campaign: “Too typically individuals really feel that whoever is elected, the reply is extra authorities. By promising an excessive amount of and making an attempt to unravel each downside, politicians don’t reassure and encourage, they disappoint and drive disillusion.”
Steve Barclay, the atmosphere secretary who was well being secretary when Sunak introduced his smoking coverage, can also be mentioned to have misgivings concerning the knowledge of a ban. He won’t vote towards the coverage which he’s on document as praising, however might decide to abstain, citing a busy diary. Alister Jack, the Scotland secretary, will not be anticipated to oppose the ban however is contemplating whether or not to abstain.
Does it matter if a sizeable variety of Tory MPs fail to assist their chief on this? In legislative phrases, most likely not very a lot. However Sunak will quickly be combating an election, and this exhibits that on a minimum of one key challenge (and one with which he’s strongly recognized personally – nobody else in authorities is pushing this), he isn’t essentially aligned with the instincts of many individuals in his celebration. That helps to elucidate why Tory members appear to be dropping religion in him.
Right here is the agenda for the day.
8.45am: Rishi Sunak chairs a political cupboard, earlier than the common weekly cupboard assembly.
10am: Former Publish Workplace executives David Miller and David Mills give proof to the Publish Workplace Horizon IT inquiry.
10.15am: Nigel Farage, the Reform UK honorary president, speaks on the Nationwide Conservatism convention in Brussels. Suella Braverman, the previous dwelling secretary, is talking at 12.45pm and Miriam Cates, the co-chair of the New Conservatives group of Tory MPs, is talking at 2.45pm.
11.30am: Downing Road holds a foyer briefing.
11.30am: Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s first minister, speaks to the Scottish TUC convention in Dundee.
After 12.45pm: MPs start the talk on the second studying of the tobacco and vapes invoice. The vote might be at 7pm.
3.10pm: David Cameron, the international secretary, takes questions within the Home of Lords.
After 3.50pm: Friends debate amendments to the protection of Rwanda (asylum and immigration) invoice.
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