The legislation, which if passed will mean that anyone aged 15 or younger today will never be able to buy cigarettes legally, will see the UK slowly become a smoke-free country.
Earlier Mr Sunak urged members of his cabinet to think of “future generations” and back his flagship plan as he sought to avoid a humiliating backlash at the hands of his own party. But the business secretary Kemi Badenoch was among those who voted against the plan, saying it undermines the principle of equality under the law by treating adults differently even if they were born just a day apart.
Other MPs tipped as future Tory leadership candidates, including former immigration minister Robert Jenrick and former home secretary Suella Braverman, also voted against the ban, alongside several serving ministers, while leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt abstained.
Ms Badenoch downplayed suggestions that her opposition to the policy demonstrated she was posturing for a future leadership bid, saying it was “a shame” people would view it that way.
“We need space for people to be able to have disagreements without it being put down to ulterior motives,” she told an LBC phone-in. “Everything we do is looked at through the prism of the worst possible intention. And I think that’s one of the reasons why politicians feel they don’t get a fair hearing, that many people decide not to do this job.”
This story is from the April 17, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 17, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
US And UK Urge Hamas To Accept 'Generous' Israeli Ceasefire Deal Over Gaza
The US and UK have urged Hamas to swiftly accept an “extraordinarily generous” Israeli proposal for a truce in the Gaza war and the release of Israeli hostages.
Why Scotland May Have Two General Elections This Year
Humza Yousaf’s resignation as first minister of Scotland has worsened a deep crisis within his party.
No Migrant Returns Deal With Ireland, Warns PM
Rishi Sunak has poured cold water on a deal with Dublin to return migrants to the UK following concerns from Irish officials that asylum seekers are crossing the Northern Irish border into Ireland.
Are Airlines Getting Tighter With Their Luggage Rules?
Q I fly frequently, using different UK airports and airlines. In the past few weeks I have lost count of the number of occasions when angry/upset passengers are told at the departure gate they must pay £40 or £50 for an oversized cabin bag.
Salah's touchline tantrum hints at deeper Reds split
In a sense, Mohamed Salah's season has come full circle. It started with a display of dissent amid a substitution in London, the Egyptian contriving to rip a rather small bandage into an absurdly high number of pieces when taken off at Chelsea.
Arsenal's derby grit bodes well for draining title race
It was a joke that Mikel Arteta probably wouldn’t have made had this game gone a different way.
Delivery firm Getir to quit UK with 1,500 jobs at risk
Grocery delivery firm Getir is to leave the UK, Europe and the US to focus solely on its home market in Turkey, bringing an end to its rapid expansion across the regions since the pandemic.
Way to go, Michelangelo
'The last decades', a new British Museum exhibition, strives to make the artist's work immersive from the powerful works to the much more saccharine pieces, writes Mark Hudson
No, Jerry, the left and 'PC crap' aren't killing comedy
Seinfeld's rant is ludicrous and ignores the fact the industry has policed itself when it goes too far, writes Adam White
'People say we're destroying football - I think it's absurd'
Humphrey Ker, actor, writer and affable executive director of Wrexham speaks to Jessie Thompson about stress, top-flight ambitions and not being part of the fairytale for much longer