Smoking age should rise from 18, by one year every year - PM

The age at which people can buy cigarettes and tobacco in England should rise by one year every year so that eventually no-one can buy them, the prime minister says.

Rishi Sunak said MPs were to be given a free vote in parliament on the issue.

Under the plan, the age of sale would rise from 18 every year so a child aged 14 today would never be allowed to buy tobacco.

The idea was put forward by a government-commissioned review in 2022.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference, Mr Sunak said he believed it was the right step, to tackle the leading cause of preventable ill-health.

"There is no safe level of smoking," he said.

Smoking rates have been falling since the 1970s. But there are still six million smokers in England and seven million across the UK.

The government has set an ambition for England to be smoke free - defined as less than 5% of the population smoking - by 2030.

He also said the government would consider restricting the sale of disposable vapes, to tackle the rising rates of children using them.

A consultation on tightening rules on vape flavours is likely to be planned.