{"id":26619,"date":"2023-11-24T16:19:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T16:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harvestmoonnews.com\/?p=26619"},"modified":"2023-11-24T16:19:11","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T16:19:11","slug":"new-zealand-scraps-smoking-ban-sparking-demands-for-rishi-sunak-to-follow-suit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harvestmoonnews.com\/politics\/new-zealand-scraps-smoking-ban-sparking-demands-for-rishi-sunak-to-follow-suit\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand scraps smoking ban, sparking demands for Rishi Sunak to follow suit"},"content":{"rendered":"

PM Rishi Sunak announces new smoking laws<\/h3>\n

Rishi Sunak\u2019s flagship health policy of banning cigarettes for the next generation has been undermined today after New Zealand – the first country in the world to propose the ban – performed a major u-turn.<\/p>\n

The policy, passed by left-wing PM Jacinda Ardern in 2022, was championed as a \u201chistoric law\u201d helping thousands to \u201clive longer, healthier lives\u201d, and save the New Zealand health service billions of dollars.<\/p>\n

The justification was copied by Rishi Sunak this Autumn, who announced an identical policy at the Tory Party conference.<\/p>\n

Mr Sunak copied the Antipodean blueprint, pledging that a 14-year-old in Britain today will never legally be sold a cigarette.<\/p>\n

Today Mr Sunak was left embarrassed after New Zealand\u2019s new right-wing coalition announced a reversal of the key policy.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Health Secretary pledges Government will go further to crack down on smoking<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The New Zealand Conservative National Party beat Labour in the October election, and today announced it will dump the world-leading policy on the grounds it is \u201cunnecessary\u201d.<\/p>\n

Attention has now moved on to the UK\u2019s mirror policy, now Rishi Sunak has been left abandoned by his only international ally on the matter.<\/p>\n

Asked this afternoon whether Mr Sunak will now follow Wellington\u2019s lead, the Prime Minister\u2019s official spokesman said: \u201cNo, our position remains unchanged\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are committed to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

“This is an important long-term decision and step to deliver a smoke-free generation which remains critically important.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, those on the right have already begun lobbying for Mr Sunak to ditch the policy, both on the grounds it is unconservative and impractical.<\/p>\n

Don’t miss… <\/strong>
When will the next General Election be? A guide to Rishi Sunak’s poll options[LATEST] <\/strong>
Lee Anderson mocks Keir Starmer for naming EU anthem favourite classical song[EXCLUSIVE] <\/strong>
‘We are taking the public for fools’ – Express exposes Tory immigration anger[WATCH] <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n