cleared its first Commons hurdle, despite a swathe of Conservative MPs voting against it. MPs voted 383 to 67, majority 316, to give the Tobacco and Vapes Bill a second reading.
The division list showed 57 Conservative MPs were among those who voted against giving the Bill a second reading. Among them were former home secretary Suella Braverman, business secretary Kemi Badenoch, former Home Office minister Robert Jenrick, former prime minister Liz Truss, and former housing secretary Sir Simon Clarke. Several serving ministers were also among those voting against, including Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart, Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker, culture minister Julia Lopez, and communities minister Lee Rowley.
Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation plan has been given a fresh beating by peers, amid a continuing stand-off over the controversial policy. Despite MPs overturning previous changes by the House of Lords, the unelected chamber again pressed demands for revisions to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill. The latest government setbacks mean a continuation of wrangling at Westminster over the proposed law that aims to clear the way to send asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats on a one-way flight to Kigali. However, the margin of the defeats was narrowed as the Tory administration drafted in rarely seen peers to bolster numbers.
Rishi Sunak warned Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu against “further significant escalation” in Tel Aviv’s response to Iran’s attack. He tweeted: “Earlier today I spoke to Prime Minister @netanyahu and reiterated our support for Israel’s security following Iran’s reckless attack at the weekend. “Further significant escalation will only deepen instability in the region. “This is a moment for calm heads to prevail.”
David Cameron has defended the United Nations after Liz Truss said she cannot see the purpose for it. In an interview with the BBC promoting her new book, Truss said: “I can’t see a purpose for the UN as it stands. At present it has been very ineffective at dealing with international situations, in fact positively damaging, for example, on Israel.” Cameron, the foreign secretary and who as PM was responsible for giving Truss her first cabinet job, was asked if he agreed. He replied: “I take the view that the United Nations has many problems and issues and the frustrations of dealing with the Security Council at the moment, when you’ve got a Russian veto and a Chinese veto, these frustrations are very great.”
Downing Street described the decision by Belgian police to shut down the National Conservatism conference as “extremely disturbing”.
House of Lords voted for amendments that would ensure that it adheres to international and key domestic laws.
The plan to spend £541m to send 300 people seeking asylum to east Africa was sent back to the House of Commons after peers voted several times to add protections for claimants to the bill.
Home Office sources believe they will still force through the bill by the end of this week. It is expected to be presented to the lower chamber again on Wednesday morning and could be returned to the upper chamber a few hours later.
Labour is not expected to whip peers to vote the bill down. Officials maintain that flights for Kigali will not take off for several weeks.
Labour government would implement the smoking ban, Wes Streeting said after the policy cleared its first Commons hurdle.
Labour’s shadow health secretary said: “Rishi Sunak put this bill at risk by granting a free vote, because he is too weak to stand up to the Liz Truss-wing of his party.
“Labour first proposed a progressive ban on smoking more than a year ago, and it was only thanks to Labour MPs that this bill passed.
“If we are privileged enough to form the next government, Labour will implement this ban, so young people today are even less likely to smoke than they are to vote Conservative.”
Suella Braverman, the business secretary Kemi Badenoch, former Home Office minister Robert Jenrick, former prime minister Liz Truss and former housing secretary Sir Simon Clarke.
Several serving ministers were also among those voting against including Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart, Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker, culture minister Julia Lopez, and communities minister Lee Rowley.
Tory MPs voting against the Bill were joined by 7 DUP MPs, Reform Party MP Lee Anderson, and Workers Party of Britain MP George Galloway.
Some 178 Conservatives supported the Bill according to the list, alongside 160 Labour MPs, 31 SNP MPs, 5 Liberal Democrats, 3 Plaid Cymru MPs, 2 independents, and the Alliance Party’s Stephen Farry.
Some 106 Tory MPs did not vote as well as 40 Labour MPs.
Smoking and Health (Ash), said: “Parliament has today begun the process of consigning smoking to the ‘ash heap’ of history.
“However, this is only the first step, the Bill must now go through committee and another vote before going through the same process in the House of Lords.
“The passage of the Bill should be expedited to ensure it is on the statute book before the general election.
“The public, who overwhelmingly support the legislation, expect nothing less.”
ITV’s Robert Peston’s reflections on the vote result.
Rishi Sunak’s smoking ban bill has passed its first hurdle in the Commons and can now go for a second reading.
However, it appears numerous Tory MPs opposed the legislation and many also abstained.
The ayes voted 383, the noes 67, giving a majority of 316.
MPs have divided to vote on the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Source: theguardian.com
