The government’s plan to ban disposable vapes by next summer has already been trashed by free-market wonks and industry insiders. Even the government’s own impact assessment admits the ban will lead “29% of current [vapers] will either revert/re-lapse to smoking tobacco”. Now it turns out no one from the Department of Health and Social Care has met with vaping industry representatives…
Despite Labour passing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and vapes being NHS-prescribed to help smokers quit, the DHSC’s 3,540 staffers – including Secretary of State Wes Streeting – have yet to meet with industry insiders. So much for Labour’s lofty promises to to consult “with all interested parties before any future vaping regulations are introduced”. Up in smoke…
Asked by Lobby hacks about his past comments on Trump (“any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now”) Burnham was blithe:
“Politicians say things throughout their career, but now the important thing is to focus on the moment you are in.”
Were it so easy…
