James Bethell: Why a clear smoking ban is the Conservative and patriotic choice

James Bethell is a former health minister and member of the House of Lords.

My heart sinks at yet another squabble over smoking.

Flavoured vapes, pub gardens, or the absurdity of teenagers being carded well into middle age, the endless tinkering with regulations is exhausting. Enough of the incrementalism, I say.

Let’s just ban smoking.

Or at the very least, set a final date, say, 2040, when it will end completely.

For too long, we’ve muddled through mealy-mouthed micro-measures. Calorie labelling, minimum pricing, BOGOF bans, ULEZ extensions. Worthy measures that I strongly support. But are these truly about maximising public health, or are they mere distractions designed to avoid meaningful measures that would improve the nation’s fitness but disrupt corporate profits?

As Conservatives, we must distinguish between unnecessary meddling and decisive action when it is required. Ronald Reagan said, “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.”

A smoking ban is different. It’s not about interference but liberation.

Smoking is highly addictive. We see patients puffing away though their oxygen masks. It is the number one cause of preventable death in Britain, costing our economy billions and disproportionately affecting the poor. In deprived communities, smoking entrenches hardship. It is both a symptom and a cause of enduring poverty.

Margaret Thatcher reminded us that economic liberty and personal freedom are inseparable. But where is the freedom for a child growing up in a household where smoking drains the family’s budget and sabotages their health? Nigel Farage calls smokers “heroes of the nation” for their tax contributions. For poor families, this is a bitter joke. Real conservatism equips people to thrive, not to be trapped by addiction.

That’s why I am calling time on smoking, once and for all.

The “Rishi generational ban” is a step forward, but it’s not a long-term measure.  Would my 15-year-old daughter be barred from buying cigarettes in 20 years while her older friends can still buy them? Conservatives stand for clarity and fairness, not muddled half-measures. That’s why I have moved an amendment to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to set an end date for tobacco sales: 2040. A clean break, giving businesses time to adapt while ensuring certainty for all.

This is a more honest and Conservative approach than the agonising and ineffective “death by a thousand cuts”. As Simon Heffer has argued, Conservatism is strongest when pragmatism meets principle. The tobacco industry has enjoyed its profits long enough while society foots the bill.

Enough is enough.

To survive the coming storms, Britain desperately needs a healthier workforce, lower healthcare costs, and families free from the misery of smoking-related disease. With geopolitical instability growing, a fit and thriving population is essential for national resilience. This is not just a health issue, it’s a patriotic mission to strengthen Britain.

Some argue that banning smoking would disrupt businesses and cost jobs. But by announcing it now, we provide a long transition period. Supply chains can adapt, retailers can pivot, and public health gains would begin immediately. Quitting smoking yields swift health benefits, and the NHS would start seeing savings within months. Britain can lead the way. Other nations will follow.

The alternative? Subsidising the colossal external costs of the tobacco industry? It epitomises the worst of “liberal capitalism” with globalist fat cats enriching themselves while taxpayers pick up the health bill. Look at BAT CEO Tadeu Marroco, eyeing an £18.2 million pay package while Britain struggles with smoking-related welfare, healthcare, and lost productivity. How long will British taxpayers keep footing this bill? It’s a luxury we can no longer afford. As US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy asked, “If someone smokes three packs daily, should they expect society to cover their medical expenses when they fall ill?” Most taxpayers don’t think so. And even smokers want to quit.

I am a Conservative because I cherish liberty and gradualism. But some fights require a clear decision. Seventy years after science proved its dangers, the tobacco industry’s time is up. Reagan said, “They say the world has become too complex for simple answers. They are wrong.”

It’s time to pass this ban, free our people, and ensure Britain breathes easy and prospers.