Health leaders from across the Humber and North Yorkshire say they are thrilled to see the historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill move to the committee stage after an overwhelmingly positive vote during the bill’s second reading in Parliament.
There was cross-party support for the bill, which also includes provisions to implement robust regulations for vaping to curb youth use.
The final vote saw 415 MPs in favour of the bill, with only 47 voting against it—20 fewer than those who opposed similar legislation during the bill’s aborted passage through the previous Parliament.
During the debate, Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan explained her decision to support the bill, shifting from her previous stance of abstention.
She credited her change of heart to a moving speech by Hull councillor, Linda Chambers, at a recent Parliamentary event.
“It would be a legitimate question to ask why I have changed my mind, and the reason is that I met someone called Linda Chambers,” Ms Morgan said. “She came to an event organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group and ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) to encourage members to support this bill.
“Linda was devastated when she lost her husband of 50 years to cardiovascular disease. Her loved one had tried several times to give up smoking but had been unsuccessful.
“The speakers at this event explained how nicotine addiction had stripped their loved ones of the personal choice to live the lives they wanted, which meant they weren’t exercising personal choice anymore. For a liberal, that’s a very, very powerful argument. Personal choice is so important, and addiction really does take that away.
“Tobacco is uniquely harmful, uniquely addictive, and that is why I support the measures we are taking to address it.”
Scott Crosby, Associate Director for the Humber and North Yorkshire Centre for Excellence in Tobacco Control, said: “Cllr Chambers has been a powerful advocate for the bill since its inception because she has experienced the pain, heartbreak, and grief that tobacco causes. She has delivered incredibly emotive speeches to share her pain in the hope of saving future generations.
“Her story is one of thousands—with more than 2,500 lives lost every year in the Humber and North Yorkshire area due to smoking.
“We are very grateful to her for sharing her story and being a voice for grieving families in our area. Supporting the bill and creating a smoke-free generation is fundamental to preventing premature deaths.”
Cllr Chambers said: “I am over the moon that the bill has progressed to the committee stage and that sharing my experience has helped highlight just how important the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is.
“Nothing can bring back my husband, but we can all do everything in our power to save lives and protect young people from ever picking up that first cigarette and becoming trapped in a lifetime of addiction.”