Dr Andrew Murrison has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to congratulate him on his announcement on banning the sale of tobacco to those now aged 14 and younger for life. This means over time smoking will decline and with it both deaths from the big killers - cancer, heart disease, stroke and dementia - and the burden on the NHS.
The measure, already introduced in New Zealand, will be subject to a free vote in the Commons. Dr Murrison, a government minister and Consultant, will be voting for it. After listening to the PM's conference speech on Wednesday Andrew said;
"Free choice is very important to me. However, smoking kills and disables tens of thousands year in year out at the hands of the tobacco industry.
“The tragedy is that terrible burden of disease - which affects poorer people disproportionately - is avoidable. That’s why I will be dancing through the ‘Aye’ lobby when this measure comes before Parliament.
The gradual introduction of the measure will mean current smokers will never be stopped from smoking if they wish to (though more help is to be given to assist them to do so) and that small convenience stores will have time to adapt to the fall in tobacco sales to young people.