Yesterday, the Tobacco & Vapes Bill passed into law with a sweeping 415 votes in favour and 47 against. I was proud to stand among the 47 dissenters, and I’ll tell you why:
This bill was always destined to pass, but my principles as a conservative who values freedom and individual choice left me no other option than to vote "no" on this overreaching and ill-conceived legislation.
Supporters of this bill argue for a smoke-free world which is a noble goal. But let me ask you: is this the right way to achieve it?
I’ve never been a smoker, but I believe people respond to education, not state-sanctioned coercion. The real success story isn’t heavy-handed legislation; it’s decades of public health campaigns. When I was born, 40% of the population smoked. Today, thanks to education and personal responsibility, that number has dropped to just 11%. We didn’t need a nanny state to accomplish that, people made their own informed choices.
The trends show that smoking was already heading for extinction by 2050. So why pass a law that risks undoing this success by creating a lucrative black market? And don’t think for a second that criminals won’t jump on the opportunity. Just look at South Africa during COVID—when tobacco sales were temporarily banned, 95% of smokers turned to illegal sources. Those criminal enterprises used the proceeds for everything from terrorism to organised crime.
Here’s the real danger: this legislation isn’t just wrong for today; it sets a dangerous precedent for tomorrow. The moment we accept this kind of intrusion, we hand over control to Yuppie Labour politicians who think they know better than we do.
It’s no secret that some Labour MPs—and sadly, a few Conservatives, are all too eager to play the moral police. They’ll be coming for your ‘Happy Meal’ next, claiming it’s too unhealthy for your kids. That weekend glass of red wine? Say goodbye, some clipboard-wielding bureaucrat will decide it’s not in your best interest.
Under this law, anyone who is 15 today will never be allowed to buy cigarettes. Picture this: 50 years from now, someone turning 65 will break the law for buying a pack of cigarettes, while their 66-year-old friend can light up legally. And, as predictably as the sunrise, the younger one might turn to that older friend to buy a pack for them. The result? A shadow market fuelled by bureaucracy and absurdity.
This mindset, that government knows best, is one I reject. I trust the people to make their own choices. That’s the same faith I had during Brexit, and it’s the same faith I hold today. Coercion doesn’t lead to lasting change; education and trust do.
The curse of our age is this tendency to ban, regulate, and micromanage everything. It’s a knee-jerk, top-down approach that does more harm than good. Yesterday, only 46 MPs joined me in my shared vision for liberty. That’s a shame, but I’ll stand by my principles, because I believe the British people are perfectly capable of deciding what’s best for themselves.
As former President Ronald Reagan once said, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."
Suella
