MPs, smoking survivors and bereaved families gather in Parliament to back Tobacco and Vapes Bill

At the inaugural meeting of the newly formed APPG on Smoking and Health, smoking survivors and bereaved families heard from the Minister for Public Health on the Government’s bold plans to create a Smokefree country. This includes re-introducing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Parliament which will raise the age of sale annually, ensuring no one born after 2009 will ever be legally be sold tobacco, alongside vital measures to curb youth vaping.

Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, said:

“Prevention will always be better than a cure so we must take action now to tackle the country’s biggest killers and build a fairer UK, where everyone lives well for longer.

“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be the biggest public health intervention since smoking was banned in indoor public spaces. It will tackle the harms of smoking, breaking the cycle of addiction and put us on track to a smokefree UK.

“This Bill will not only save thousands of lives but ease the pressures on the NHS. By building a healthier society, we will help to build a healthy economy.”

The APPG and those attending also heard from the Shadow Public Health Minister Ben Spencer, demonstrating continued cross-party support for the policy:

“80,000 people die a year from smoking relating illness; but that is the tip of the iceberg of the disability and harm that smoking causes people day-in and day-out.

“In one move, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will revolutionise the impact on public health moving forward. Public health is often small, gradual, incremental changes — but this is one of those rare events, a game changer, to have a big impact on public health and the health of our nation.”

Mum-of-three Sue Mountain, 59, from South Shields, started smoking aged 11. She underwent laser treatment aged 48 after a biopsy revealed she had laryngeal cancer in 2012. The cancer then returned in 2015 and then again in 2017 but she is now cancer free. She made heartfelt plea in a speech to parliamentarians.

“When they first announced the plans around raising the age of sale for the next generation, I thought it was amazing. This just now needs to happen as soon as possible.

“The terrible fact is that every day more children will start to smoke. Unless they quit many will spends tens of thousands of pounds and suffer a disease like cancer or COPD as a direct result. Every day we lose feels like such a waste.”

“Our MPs need to make this happen. This is all about a better life for our children and grandchildren – free of waking up needing a cigarette, free of the costs and free of the health risks.”

Sue is the face for stop smoking campaigns talking about her experience of smoking-related cancer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOOonEpZUXE&t=6s

Attendees viewed an emotional tribute to Denham Thomas who sadly died from COPD as his bereaved wife and daughter were in attendance to speak to politicians: https://www.fresh-balance.co.uk/news/families-share-life-changing-stories-in-smoking-survivors-campaign/

Mary Foy, Labour MP and co-chair of the APPG, said:

"The North-East of England is one of the most disadvantaged places in our country with historically high rates of smoking. But two decades of investment and action in the region has brought our rates of smoking down to some of the lowest in the country.

“Progress can be made, benefiting the whole of society. Smoking is a major cause of the health inequalities that divide our country and the Government must ensure that, as we move towards a Smokefree future, no one is left behind.”

Bob Blackman, Conservative MP and co-chair of the APPG, said:

“The APPG on Smoking and Health has been instrumental in pushing forward the agenda on tobacco control over the decades. An end to the harms of smoking is in sight with ambitious plans to create a Smokefree Generation brought forward by the last government, which this government must make good on. Smoking takes a huge toll, both personal and economic, on our society and it is fantastic that both ministers are here today to hear, from those who have lived it, about the positive impact that this Bill will make.”

Jim Dickson, Labour MP and Vice Chair of the APPG, said:

“It has been a pleasure to host this event today and to hear such powerful stories from those impacted by smoking. I am proud that this Labour Government is taking forward a Bill which can truly be said to be a one in a generation public health intervention that will save lives.”


ENDS

Notes to the Editor

Action on Smoking and Health is a health charity working to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco use. For more information see: ash.org.uk. ASH receives funding for its programme of work from Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.

Contact: press@ash.org.uk Hazel Cheeseman Chief Executive, is available for media interviews