The smoking ban is emblematic of how the Tories lost their way Opinion The generational smoking ban shows what happens when Conservatives go against their instincts, says Karl McCartney When you are fortunate enough to be elected as an MP you have many issues that you might wish to pursue. In my and many of my former colleagues’ cases, these issues reflected basic Conservative values, encompassing a range [...]
Majority of Brits reject Labour’s ‘nanny state’ policies Politics A majority of Brits reject ‘nanny state’ measures from Labour to control “unhealthy” lifestyle choices stating they have more trust in themselves than the government. Fresh polling from the Adam Smith Institute shows six in ten Brits do not support the government having much control over adults’ health and personal decisions. It comes after the [...]
Why is the government making vapes harder to buy than cigarettes? Opinion Vaping remains the most effective tool to help smokers quit, so why is Labour trying to restrict access to vape shops, asks Andrej Kuttruf.
British American Tobacco ups guidance on US return to growth June 3, 2025 Pall Mall and Lucky Strike owner British American Tobacco (BAT) has said its American business has returned to growth, driven by smokeless products. In a trading update, the company said its combustible products – cigarettes and cigars – are expected to return to growth in the first half of the year, while its nicotine pouches Velo [...]
Is the disposable vapes ban going to make any difference in the UK? May 30, 2025 In 2021, vapes went from a small-scale smoking alternative to dominate the UK’s nicotine market. Now, about half of the vape market is set to become illegal when the government’s disposable vape ban comes into force on Sunday. It’s part of the government’s plan to create a “smoke-free” generation, which will see disposable vapes banned, [...]
UK has one Europe’s biggest nanny states May 15, 2025 The UK has one of the biggest nanny states in Europe, a new study has found. The report from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the European Policy Information Centre, titled the Nanny State Index 2025, said that the UK has the 7th biggest nanny state in Europe. Edited by Dr Christopher Snowdon, head [...]
British American Tobacco’s smokeless gamble starts to pay off December 11, 2024 Pall Mall and Lucky Strike owner British American Tobacco (BAT) said today its shift to smokeless products was yielding strong results as it waited for further updates on its legal action in Canada. In a trading update, the company confirmed it would deliver full-year results in line with guidance, as trading in the second half [...]
MPs to vote on smoking ban bill and ‘harmful’ vape sales aimed at children November 26, 2024 MPs are to vote on a landmark smoking bill which would raise the legal tobacco purchasing age and clamp down on “harmful” childhood vaping. Parliament will have its first debate on the measures in the proposed new law, followed by a vote in the House of Commons later today, in what’s known as the ‘second [...]
Vaping crack down will do more harm than good November 26, 2024 The government rightly U-turned on banning smoking in pub gardens, it should do the same for plans to restrict products that help smokers quit, says Richard Holden MP The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will have its second reading in the House of Commons today. It’s a bill with laudable intentions. Very few people would argue [...]
Autumn Budget 2024: Vaping tax and tobacco duty to increase October 30, 2024 Smokers and vapers are set to pay more in Britain as Chancellor Rachel Reeves today announced a new vaping tax and an increase in tobacco duty during her Autumn Budget. She confirmed that the government will introduce a “flat rate duty” on all vaping liquid from October 2026, while also renewing the tobacco duty escalator [...]