Rishi Sunak, the current British Prime Minister, is aware of the possibility that his time in office may be coming to an end if the polls do not shift in his favor. However, he has created a smoking plan that has garnered significant cross-party support and is likely to have a lasting social impact. Even if the opposition Labour party wins the next election, they have indicated that they would not scrap the plan.
Sunak’s government is seeking to promote a societal shift towards the end of smoking, which he has described as “the biggest public health intervention in a generation.” On Tuesday, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins stated that creating a smoke-free generation would save thousands of young people from addiction and early death, as well as save billions of pounds for the country’s National Health Service.
Despite opposition from nearly 60 Conservative MPs and around 100 other abstentions, the smoking plan has received enough backing to progress through the early stages of parliamentary approval. This has revealed some of the conflicts within the Conservative party and the potential for future leadership challenges from ambitious members, such as Kemi Badenoch and Penny Mordaunt, who both abstained from the vote.
It remains to be seen what the final form of the smoking plan will be, as there are still further stages of approval required before it becomes law. However, if the plan is successful in its implementation, it has the potential to significantly shift societal attitudes towards smoking. Despite his political troubles, Prime Minister Sunak may be remembered for his contribution to this potentially profound social change in the future
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