The sale of cigarettes could be phased out under Labour proposals to improve public health and ease the pressure on the NHS. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the party will consult on a package of measures, including a New Zealand-style gradual ban on tobacco.
Smoking costs the health service billions each year and reducing its prevalence could free up much-needed cash. The Government target of getting the adult smoking rate down to 5% or under in England by 2030 is widely expected to be missed without drastic action.
Mr Streeting suggested cigarette sales could eventually be outlawed if Labour take power. He told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “One of the things that was recommended to the Government in one of their reviews was phasing out the sale of cigarettes altogether over time. We’ll be consulting on that and a whole range of other measures.
