Here's where every Macclesfield parliamentary candidate stands on smoking ban
By Alex Greensmith
2nd Jul 2024 | General Election 2024
The final question at the final general election hustings in Macclesfield was on the recently-scrapped smoking bill.
The policy would have 'banned' smoking for people born after January 1 2009, blocking them from buying cigarettes, in an attempt to create 'smoke-free' generations.
Ex-PM's Liz Truss and Boris Johnson criticised the plans, with the latter calling it 'nuts'.
Rishi Sunak's 'legacy policy' was left in limbo as the general election was called.
And it has since been revealed that it has been dropped.
An investigation by The Guardian published last Saturday suggested lobbying from tobacco firms could be the reason why the policy was dropped.
When he was Macclesfield's MP, David Rutley supported the ban proposed by Mr Sunak's government.
But what if, in a world where Macclesfield's next MP could bring the bill back, would they?
The last question in the hustings at St. Michael's Church, Macclesfield on Monday evening was put to all seven candidates.
It was "Rishi Sunak's proposed smoking ban, to ensure that the next generation grows up smoke free, didn't go through. If the next government reintroduced the bill, would you support it or not? And why, given the long-term health issues that the country faces?"
We have included the candidates answers in the random order they were chosen to respond by the event organisers.
Tim Roca, Labour candidate was first to speak: "It's a very good question," he said.
"I'm a big believer in saying 'Well if you don't know, you don't know'
"I feel like it is a public health issue that I don't know enough about.
"When people ask me a question, I like to be honest. It is something I will look into and research properly.
"I think my inclination would be to vote yes."
Next to answer was Stephen Broadhurst, for Reform UK.
"Yes. I would vote to ban it," Stephen said.
"I think we have already spoke about the NHS and the pressures on there. Smoking was one of the biggest causes of medical problems in the NHS.
"I think it is absolutely the step in the right direction to stop the smoking, stop the vaping, and to lead a more clean and healthy life."
Dickie Fletcher is the Social Democratic Party candidate.
"I don't think I would support it no," said Dickie.
"I understand the health issues, but the tax on cigarettes would more than offset the health issues.
"And also I think it would be a bit hypocritical. I quit smoking, but I still occasionally smoke.
"And I don't want to interfere with other people's choices around smoking."
Fourth to answer was Neil Christian of the Liberal Democrats.
"My understanding of the previous bills, correct me if I'm wrong, it was a transitional plan," said Neil.
"So it would be in age brackets."
"I don't have an issue with that. I think I probably would vote in favour of that.
"I'd also want to include vaping in there as well. I know vaping can assist in people getting off addictions from tobacco, but it can also be a problem.
"I see plenty of kids [INAUDIBLE] one second walking out of high school and they are addicted to vaping.
"Vaping has had problems that we have not completely dealt with, and it needs to be included in this bill to go forward."
David Rutley, who voted for the bill to be introduced, said this at yesterday's hustings on the matter:
"I fully support it", said David.
"My father sadly died from emphysema.
"It is just terrible, the amount of number people still dying from lung cancer. It is a real scourge.
"We have got to stop young people from falling into that trap. And that addiction.
"I absolutely support that legislation."
Next to speak was the Green Party candidate Amanda Iremonger.
"My understanding is that this was dropped before the election not because of it", she said.
"I wouldn't want to comment on whether that was because of lobbying by the smoking companies. Who knows?
"We the Green Party, more broadly - just than smoking - bans do not work. I see that every day with the work I am doing with recovery addicts. [Amanda volunteers for an addiction charity which works inside Macclesfield's St. Michael's Church].
"Banning, making drugs illegal doesn't work. It just drives it underground, and making the same might be true with smoking.
"But like Tim [Roca, Labour candidate], I don't have a yes or no answer to this question.
"The Greens were pushing for the establishment and the national commission to look at an evidence-based approach to decriminalising drugs. Why would we not include smoking in that as well?"
The final person selected to answer was Christopher Wellavize, the Independent candidate.
"I would just like to echo what Amanda [Iremonger, Green] has just said", said Christopher.
"I think we are not very good at protecting our young people from addiction.
"That is addiction across so many things. We just need to work harder protecting people.
"Social media is probably a bigger scourge than anything, and just trying to make sure that social media is actually edited properly and people are protected from harm.
"So all these things, we just need to do better. A ban approach is too simplistic, we need to protect people better, so again we need to heal each other, work together, and together we can solve most of these problems."
According to the last government, smoking is "responsible for around 80,000 deaths annually, smoking is the UK's single biggest preventable killer and costs the NHS and economy an estimated £17 billion a year - far more than the £10 billion annual revenue from tobacco taxation."
Macclesfield voters will go to the polling station for the general election on Thursday, July 4 from 7am to 10pm.
The candidates are: Stephen Broadhurst (Reform UK), Dickie Fletcher (Social Democratic Party), Neil Christian (Liberal Democrats), Amanda Iremonger (Green Party), Tim Roca (Labour Party), David Rutley (Conservatives), Christopher Wellavize (Independent).
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