Chris Whitty urges MPs to ignore lobbying and pass smoking ban bill

Whitty said passing the bill would have a ‘substantial positive effect on preventing disease, disability and death’. Photograph: Reuters

Chris Whitty has said lobbying by big tobacco “needs to be addressed head on”, as email evidence emerged of campaigning tactics being used to put pressure on MPs to sink Rishi Sunak’s smoking ban bill.

The landmark legislation, which would bar anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes, is due to be debated in parliament for the first time on Tuesday.