The Tories have criticised Labour’s plan to ban smoking outside pubs just months after saying they wanted to make it completely illegal.
Rishi Sunak announced at last year’s Tory conference that anyone currently aged 15 and under would never be able to legally buy tobacco.
The former prime minister’s decision to call an early election meant he ran out of time to turn the policy into law.
Labour have said they will introduce the legislation themselves, and today it emerged that they want to go further by banning smoking in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants and outside sports stadiums and hospitals.
The Conservatives posted on X that was “more evidence that Labour hates freedom”.
“This isn’t about people’s health. It’s about control,” they added.
But embarrassingly for the Tories, a community note was added to the post pointing out the party’s previous support for an outright smoking ban.
Today’s news is more evidence that Labour hates freedom.
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) August 29, 2024
This isn’t about people’s health. It’s about social control.
Other users of the social media platform were also quick to highlight the Conservatives’ apparent hypocrisy.
Do all the Conservative MPs kicking off about banning smoking in beer gardens realise that they all just ran for election on a manifesto to ban smoking everywhere?
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) August 29, 2024
Amazing that no-one knows what Conservatives stand for https://t.co/9NnSKAY8Uyhttps://t.co/D0FJrF8wM1
— Torsten Bell (@TorstenBell) August 29, 2024
This party tried to basically ban smoking just a few months ago. It's in no position whatsoever to talk about freedom. https://t.co/KMjdfw2YUS
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) August 29, 2024
The absolute state of this from a party that only a few months ago wanted to pass a bill that would make smoking entirely illegal.
— Dr Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) August 29, 2024
Treating the electorate as fools, yet again. https://t.co/XDk1wWpKoc
Coming from a party that supported the idea of banning it completely.
— Ian Smith (@Smithy_MFC84) August 29, 2024
Clutching doesn’t even cover it. https://t.co/TOa5vqAFN8
