Will Rishi Sunak's tobacco ban go up in smoke? Laws outlawing cigarettes and bringing in planned football regulator not among legislation to be rushed through Parliament before it is dissolved for July 4 election
Rishi Sunak's controversial tobacco ban appears to be going up in smoke after it was left out of laws to be completed before the general election.
The Prime Minister put a lot of his own political energy into the law that would prohibit anyone born after 2009 from ever legally smoking cigarettes.
The proposal, a world first, was very unpopular with Tory backbenchers who said it impinged on individual freedoms and would rob the Treasury of billions in tax.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt today left them out of a list of bills included in the 'wash up', the period between an election being called and Parliament being dissolved for campaigning.
Also left out was a plan for a new independent regulator for UK football through the Football Governance Bill, which was championed by former Tory sports minister Tracey Crouch. Efforts to reform leasehold contracts on homes will also fall.
However, all bills were supported by Labour, so are likely to be reintroduced if Sir Keir Starmer becomes PM.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt today left them out of a list of bills included in the 'wash up', the period between an election being called and Parliament being dissolved for campaigning.
The Prime Minister put a lot of his own political energy into the law that would prohibit anyone born after 2009 from ever legally smoking cigarettes.
The legislation would ban tobacco sales to anybody born on or after January 1 2009 - meaning children aged 15 or younger today will never legally be sold a cigarette in England.
It also gives the Government powers to tackle youth vaping, with restrictions on flavours and new rules on packaging and selling vapes.
Ms Mordaunt made no mention of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as she updated MPs on the business currently scheduled ahead of prorogation on Friday.
She said of business on Thursday: "Remaining stages of the Finance (No.2) Bill. Followed by, if necessary, consideration of a Lords message to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. Followed by consideration of Lords amendments to the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill. Followed by, if necessary, consideration of any further Lords messages."
Ms Mordaunt said the business on Friday will include time to consider Lords amendments to legislation, including the Victims and Prisoners Bill, a statutory instrument and also an opportunity for MPs to make valedictory speeches.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill received a second reading in the Commons last month but made no further progress, meaning it stands to fall once the House prorogues ahead of dissolution.