Smoking ban ‘emblematic of technocratic establishment’ to limit freedom says Truss
MPs have backed Rishi Sunak’s smoking ban, despite a Tory revolt. MPs voted 383 to 67, majority 316, to give bill a second reading. It makes it illegal for anyone born after 2008 to ever buy cigarettes, a measure which the prime minister insists will save thousands of lives. Liz Truss led attacks in the Commons on what she called a “fundamentally un-Conservative” measure which she said was “emblematic of a technocratic establishment in this country that wants to limit people’s freedom”. She accused ministers of caving in to the “health police” as she blamed Sir Chris Whitty, the chief medical medical officer, and other professionals for pushing policies based on “a belief that government knows best”. Read the best of our journalism: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=timesonlinevideo Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timesandsundaytimes/ Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thetimes Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetimes/ #smokingban #uk #sunak
