Rishi Sunak vows to go ahead with New Zealand-style smoking ban for Britain despite new Kiwi government planning to scrap prohibition Down Under

Rishi Sunak is to press ahead with a UK smoking ban despite the original prohibition on which it is modelled being scrapped by a new government in New Zealand.  

A rolling ban on smoking for anyone born in or after 2009 was introduced by Kiwi PM Jacinta Ardern in January, effectively meaning that anyone aged 14 or under would never be allowed to legally smoke tobacco.

Mr Sunak followed suit with a similar plan for the UK that he unveiled at the Conservative Party Conference, despite criticism from some libertarian Tories including Boris Johnson.

However Ms Ardern stepped down earlier this year and her party was replaced by a rightwing coalition in a general election last month.

Reports from Wellington suggest that the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act she brought in will be repealed under the terms of the coalition agreement.

Asked whether Mr Sunak would consider following Wellington’s lead, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said: ‘No, our position remains unchanged.

‘We are committed to that. This is an important long-term decision and step to deliver a smoke-free generation which remains critically important.’

A rolling ban on smoking for anyone born in or after 2009 was introduced by Kiwi PM Jacinta Ardern in January, effectively meaning that anyone aged 14 or under would never be allowed to legally smoke tobacco.

Mr Sunak followed suit with a similar plan for the UK that he unveiled at the Conservative Party Conference, despite criticism from some libertarian Tories.

Reports from Wellington suggest that the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act she brought in will be repealed under the terms of the coalition agreement.

Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: ‘The eccentric idea of a generational smoking ban is doomed to failure. It is an unworkable pipe dream that will only enrich tobacco smugglers and erode respect for the law while doing little to reduce smoking.

‘The Kiwi U-turn comes just weeks after the Malaysian government abandoned a similar policy because age discrimination is unconstitutional. Prime Minster Rishi Sunak now stands alone in the world, carrying the torch of a policy dreamt up by Jacinda Ardern at the fag end of a Labour government on the other side of the world.’

New Zealand’s wait for a new government is over after three party leaders signed a coalition agreement today.

The deal ended nearly six weeks of intense negotiations since the general election on October 14.

The deal will see Christopher Luxon serve as prime minister after his conservative National Party won 38 per cent of the vote, the largest proportion of any party.

He thanked New Zealanders for their patience during the negotiations and said each party had made policy compromises to close the deal.

He said: ‘Our government will rebuild the economy to ease the cost of living and deliver tax relief to increase the prosperity of all New Zealanders.

‘Our government will restore law and order and personal responsibility, so that Kiwis are safer in their own communities.’

The deputy prime minister role will be split between the other two leaders.

It will be held for the first 18 months of the election cycle by 78-year-old lawmaker Winston Peters, who leads the populist New Zealand First party, before he hands the baton for the remaining 18 months to David Seymour, leader of the libertarian ACT Party.

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