Tory rebels urge Rishi Sunak to ditch controversial smoking ban plan and other 'fundamentally un

Release time：2024-05-21 12:54:53 Source：Culture Connect news portal

Rishi Sunak is facing his 'moment of maximum danger' ahead of a series of key Commons votes, Tory rebels claimed last night.

They warned him to ditch his controversial smoking ban plan and other 'fundamentally un-Conservative' policies or face the consequences.

MPs loyal to the Prime Minister hit back by pointing out that the Government's flagship Safety of Rwanda Bill should become law by Friday and at last provide a solution to the small boats crisis.

However, Mr Sunak is facing a rebellion this week over controversial plans to raise the minimum age for buying tobacco every year to phase out smoking.

It would effectively mean that anyone currently aged 14 or younger will never be able to buy cigarettes.

Rishi Sunak is facing his 'moment of maximum danger' ahead of a series of key Commons votes, Tory rebels claimed last night

Last week, Boris Johnson branded the plan 'absolutely nuts' and The Mail on Sunday understands fellow ex-PM Liz Truss will speak against the plans in this week's Commons debate.

MPs are being given a free vote on the issue – meaning there can be no formal revolt against the Government even though reports yesterday said at least three Cabinet ministers will vote against the plan. 

And one senior Tory branded the decision not to impose a three-line Whip as a 'sign of weakness by Rishi, not strength'.

Some Tory MPs are also venting their anger that a Labour MP's proposal to decriminalise abortion could become part of the wider Criminal Justice Bill – forcing some of them to vote against the entire legislation.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has made no clear he does support any plans to remove Mr Sunak, said: 'A Bill that decriminalises abortion is not something I would feel able to support at Third Reading.

'That is the view of many of my colleagues who are concerned about the consequences of decriminalisation.'

Last night, one Tory rebel said: 'With the local elections around the corner, Rishi is facing his moment of maximum danger.

'The fact that he's electing to pursue the unConservative smoking ban and fail to see down extreme proposals on abortion and conversion therapy show how little he gets it.

'He either grips these Bills now, or he'll go down wishing he had.'

'Absolutely nuts': Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has poured scorn over plans to increase the minimum age to buy cigarettes every year in a bid to phase out smoking altogether

However, sources close to Home Secretary James Cleverly said that they expected the Rwanda Bill – which would pave the way for illegal migrants' flights to the African country – to receive Royal Assent by the end of the week.

They said that would then expose that unlike the Tory Government, Sir Keir Starmer's Labour had no answer to the migrant crisis.

One source said: 'We have a deterrent – they [Labour] do not.'

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