Boris Johnson calls out Rishi Sunak’s ‘barmy’ smoking ban in furious rant
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has savaged Rishi Sunak’s new bid to stop young people from ever being able to buy cigarettes by changing the rules.
Boris slammed the proposed ban which he dubbed “barmy”, as it means someone who was born on or after January 1, 2009 will never legally be allowed to buy tobacco.
In his Mailplus column, he mocked the idea that police would spend time “on the legal enforcement of a nationwide ban on smoking” rather than on “other priorities like knife crime, sexual violence, county lines drugs gangs”.
If the proposed rule change goes ahead, the legal age for buying tobacco in England will go up one year annually until it applies to the whole population.
Rishi Sunak unveiled the unpopular plan at the annual Conservative party conference in Manchester this week.
Read more The smoking capitals of the UK as Rishi Sunak announces ban for next generation
Mr Sunak said: “I propose that in future we raise the smoking age by one year every year.
“That means a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette and that they and their generation can grow up smoke free.”
Smoking will not be criminalised and the phased approach means anyone who is old enough to buy cigarettes now will not be prevented from doing so.
However, the proposed rule change, following New Zealand with some of the strictest smoking laws in the world, sparked a fair backlash amongst fellow Tories.
Writing a column for Mail Plus, Boris Johnson questioned: “Child A will be free to smoke like a chimney to the end of his days. Child B — born only a day later! — will be a criminal if he does.
“How the hell is that supposed to work?”
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Don’t miss…
Smoking ban to stop early habit[LATEST]
Rishi Sunak braces for first major revolt as conference speech sparks Tory fury[REVEAL]
Rishi Sunak announces radical plan to ban smoking for next generation[INSIGHT]
The 59-year-old former Tory MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip questioned whether fines would be imposed to those born after January 1, 2009 caught smoking.
He continued: “Yes, folks, if this plan is to make any sense at all, it must logically mean that we are willing to send repeated and incorrigible scofflaws to prison — for smoking!”
Source: Read Full Article