By Natalia Forero, Local Democracy Reporter
Only nine of the 19 Hampshire MPs voted in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that aims to create the first “smoke-free” generation in the UK.
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MPs voted through legislation banning anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes or tobacco products in the UK.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to ensure those turning 15 this year would be banned from buying cigarettes and also intends to make vapes less attractive to children.
On Tuesday (April 16), MPs voted 383 to 67, a majority of 316 in favour of the Bill that will have a third reading before it goes into the House of Lords, which will vote again on the plans to become a law.
Conservative MPs were given a free vote on the Bill, meaning those who voted against the Government’s position would not face punishment.
Voting records showed that 57 Tory MPs voted against the ban, including former home secretary and MP for Fareham Suella Braverman, Paul Holmes (Eastleigh), and Desmond Swayne (New Forest West).
More than 100 Conservative MPs did not vote, including seven from Hampshire, including the leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt, Caroline Dinenage (Gosport), Bob Seely (Isle of Wight), and Royston Smith (Southampton, Itchen).
From the 19 MPs in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, only nine, of which seven are Conservatives, voted in favour like Steve Brine (Winchester), Flick Drummond (Meon Valley), Damian Hinds (East Hampshire), Julian Lewis (New Forest East), Alan Mak (Havant), Maria Miller (Basingstoke) and Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North).
Labour MP Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) and Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test) also supported the Bill.
MPs Suella Braverman and Paul Holmes have been contacted for comment.
According to information published by Hampshire County Council in July 2022, around eight per cent of adults in the county smoked compared to 12.1 per cent in England.
Havant, Gosport, Rushmoor, New Forest, and Fareham all have higher smoking prevalence rates than the Hampshire average, and Havant also has a higher smoking prevalence than the England average.
Photo by Irina Iriser on Unsplash