Peer trying to derail UK smoking ban discussed bill with relative at tobacco firm

"Lord Strathcarron is proposing amendments that would scrap the central provision of the tobacco and vapes bill, originally proposed by Rishi Sunak's government. If the bill is passed in its original form, the UK would become only the second country to implement a so-called generational smoking ban, making it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born after 2008. Strathcarron's proposal is to simply raise the legal purchase age from 18 to 21."

"The change proposed by the peer, who in a recent speech in the Lords described cigars as harmless, mirrors BAT's lobbying position. The result would be that millions more people could legally be sold tobacco products over the coming decades. Tobacco groups have threatened the government with legal action over the proposed generational ban and have courted rightwing MPs in an apparent attempt to muster support for watering down the proposals."

Lord Strathcarron has tabled amendments to the tobacco and vapes bill that would remove the generational sales ban and instead raise the legal tobacco purchase age from 18 to 21. If the original bill passes, tobacco sales would become illegal for anyone born after 2008. Strathcarron discussed the bill with an in-law who is very high up at British American Tobacco and declined to name the person. The peer’s change mirrors BAT’s lobbying position and would allow millions more people to be legally sold tobacco products in coming decades. Tobacco companies have threatened legal action and sought political support to weaken the bill.

Read at www.theguardian.com