On 26 November 2024 Westminster Parliament led by Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voted in the 2nd reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. 415 MPs voted in favour of the bill, while 46 MPs voted against. The bulk that voted in favour of the bill came from Labour and the Liberal Democrats, while the bulk of the votes against the bill came from the Conservatives. This Means that any person born on or after 1 January 2009 will not be allowed to purchase tobacco for the foreseeable future. The Bill will extend the current indoor smoking ban to some outdoor settings. Smoking will not be allowed in children’s playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals in England. The government also did have plans to ban smoking in the gardens of pubs and restaurants in England. Fortunately, these plans have now been ditched which will save many pubs and restaurants from closing.
BBC News: What is the UK smoking ban and how many people still smoke?
BBC News: Pub garden smoking ban dropped from government plans
Also recently, on 29 November 2024 the government put forward the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which aims to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales, which unfortunately got voted in on the 2nd reading. 330 MPs voted in favour of the bill, while 275 MPs voted against. Again, the bulk that voted in favour of the bill came from Labour and the Liberal Democrats, while the bulk of the Conservative votes were against the bill.
BBC News: Last-minute lobbying ahead of major assisted dying vote
You may ask, what has the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill have to do with Freedom2Choose? This is to show the hypocrisy of those in power. Smoking in moderation carries a moderate risk to a person’s health. Eating and drinking sugary food and drink, eating fatty foods, or drinking alcohol can also carry a moderate risk to a person’s health. As for getting rid of someone for being unwell, that is just outright murder.
Anti-smokers try to portray those in opposition to their views as backwards and ignorant and that they themselves are progressive and caring. Some of those in opposition show that this is not the case. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg voted against the government’s smoking legislation back in the original Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Second Reading under former Conservative Prime Minster Rishi Sunak on 16 April 2024, describing it as ‘a foolish and ill-timed bill’. However, he did speak out against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, stating “The sanctity of life is paramount – it is not for man to bring life to an end.” Former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated, on the original Tobacco and Vapes Bill stating “Rishi Sunak’s attempt to ban smoking is nuts” also declaring he was against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Former Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss, again on the original Tobacco and Vapes Bill stated the government’s proposed smoking ban for youngsters is the result of a “technocratic establishment” that is aiming to “limit people’s freedom.” She also told the Daily Mail newspaper she was ‘completely opposed’ to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Also, Reform UK leader and MP Nigel Farage did speak out against the present Tobacco and Vapes Bill stating “This afternoon, we had a debate on the Tobacco & Vapes bill. Believe me, the Cromwellians are fully in charge.” Though he did not turn up to vote on the bill he did state “The reason I’m not voting is because it’s going to pass with a majority of about 300.” He also voted against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
GB News: ‘Absurd’ smoking bill won’t win back voters, Rees-Mogg warns government
Modern politics has nothing to do with saving lives. It is about having no tolerance for the unhealthy and getting rid of the weak. This is history repeating itself from Nazi Germany who also were anti-smoking and executed the weak.
UK Parliament: Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Second Reading 16 April 2024
UK Parliament: Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Second Reading 26 November 2024
UK Parliament: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading 29 November 2024