Tory MP Philip Davies said to attendees of smoker-rights group Forest’s annual lunch:
“This legislation is utterly absurd. Not only is it illiberal, and a triumph for the nanny state – treating adults as children – it is also completely unenforceable.
In years to come are we really expecting shops to ask 51-year-olds for ID to ensure they are not 50? Are trading standards going to send in 48-year-olds to see if a rogue shop sells them a packet of fags despite them being 3 years below the new age limit?
I look forward to voting against this nonsensical and embarrassing Bill at third reading.”
Krishnan Guru-Murthy asked John Healey: “Just finally, I mean Andy Burnham has been very clear he wants Britain back in the European Union in his lifetime. Do you?”
The Chancellor replied: “I’m older than Andy Burnham. I don’t expect to see that.”