Boris Johnson has attacked Rishi Sunak’s smoking ban, calling it “absolutely nuts” in a lament about the state of the Conservative party in Britain.
Speaking at an event in Canada on Wednesday night, Johnson said it was “mad” that the party of Winston Churchill was “banning cigars”.
The government is passing legislation to end smoking by increasing the legal age to buy tobacco each year. Sunak announced the plan at the Conservative party conference last year and has presented it as part of his political legacy.
Johnson attacked the policy at the Canada Strong and Free conference in Ottawa, where he appeared on a panel with the former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott and the political commentator John O’Sullivan.
Johnson said: “When I look at some of the things we are doing now, or that are being done in the name of conservatism, I think they’re absolutely nuts.
“We’re banning cigars. What is the point of banning – the party of Winston Churchill wants to ban cigars … Donnez moi un break, as they say in Quebec. It’s just mad.”
There have been suggestions that Johnson will return to the campaign trail to help the Conservatives at the general election, expected to take place in the autumn. But the former prime minister’s intervention casts doubt on whether he is minded to help his successor, with whom he has a difficult relationship. Johnson’s allies hold Sunak responsible for helping bring about his resignation in the summer of 2022.
Sunak’s proposed smoking ban would make it illegal for anyone turning 15 or younger this year to ever be able to buy tobacco products. The policy has faced criticism from the libertarian wing of the Conservative party.
MPs are expected to be given a free vote on the proposed law when it comes to the Commons on 16 April. Given the government and the Labour party are in favour of the plan, it is expected to pass.
A similar law had been due to come into effect in New Zealand in July, but was repealed by the country’s new coalition government in February.
Johnson told the audience: “The difference between us conservatives and our opponents is that every time, their instincts are always about control and exploitation and coercion, and taking your money and spending it on your behalf and regulating your life – and we are, on the whole, in favour of freedom.
“It’s that single Anglo-Saxon idea of freedom that I think unites conservatives – or should unite conservatives.”
He then suggested that introducing bans and strict regulations was a feature of more autocratic societies, such as Russia.
Johnson said he hoped the Tory party in the UK would be “transfused with the Canadians’ can-do spirit and turn things around in the next few months”. The conservatives in Canada have enjoyed a resurgence in the past two years under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre.
At the event in Ottawa, Johnson also spoke in favour of supporting Ukraine and Israel. He also said he had changed his mind on climate change over the years and defended policies to tackle it and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Let me tell you, elections are won by the party that really owns the future. And I’m full of excitement about what’s happening here in Canada, but I think that people want to see there’s a plan and a programme to deal with this problem in a proper conservative way,” he said.
