British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s ambitious legislation to enact one of the world’s toughest anti-smoking measures appears to have hit a roadblock. Sunak’s proposed law aimed at prohibiting individuals aged 15 and under from purchasing cigarettes is now in jeopardy as the Prime Minister unexpectedly called for a snap general election in July, leaving little time for pending bills to be enacted.
In a surprise announcement on Wednesday (May 22), Sunak disclosed plans for a general election to be held on July 4, following months of speculation. In a statement from Downing Street, Sunak revealed he had sought the dissolution of parliament from King Charles III.
“The king has granted this request and we will have a general election on July 4,” Sunak declared, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming election in determining Britain’s future trajectory.
The dissolution of parliament effectively halts progress on pending legislation, including Sunak’s proposed smoking ban. With parliament set to adjourn for the election on Friday, discussions are underway between government and opposition factions regarding which bills to expedite before the hiatus.
Sunak’s anti-smoking initiative, aiming to impose stringent regulations in Britain, notably by prohibiting cigarette purchases for those aged 15 and under, faces uncertainty amidst the electoral upheaval. While the ban was not explicitly mentioned on the parliamentary agenda for the immediate future, it is expected to feature prominently in the Conservative manifesto.
House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt on Thursday’s session, did not include the smoking ban bill in the scheduled parliamentary business before the election hiatus. She indicated ongoing negotiations across party lines regarding the fate of bills not prioritized in the legislative calendar.
Despite facing dissent from within his Conservative party, Sunak’s smoking ban bill successfully cleared its initial parliamentary hurdle in April. Expressing determination to advance his legislative agenda, Sunak acknowledged the necessity of cooperation from other parliamentary factions.
“I will do everything I can to move these things forward, but it is dependent on the cooperation of other parties across parliament as well,” Sunak affirmed, reflecting the uncertain fate of his anti-smoking legislation amidst the political tumult preceding the July general election.