Blow for Rishi Sunak as nearly HALF his MPs fail to back flagship cigarettes ... trends now
Rishi Sunak is facing fresh doubts about his future today after nearly half his MPs failed to back the flagship cigarettes ban.
Some 59 Tories - including six ministers - went against the PM as the phased block on sales of tobacco products cleared its first hurdle in the Commons last night.
A total of 165 Conservative MPs did not support the measures, which were branded 'nanny state' by critics including former premier Liz Truss.
The legislation still comfortably passed the second reading stage thanks to backing from Labour and other parties. As it was classed as a conscience issue, there was technically no rebellion as the government did not whip.
But Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - tipped as a potential future leader - was among those who voted against.
Rishi Sunak is facing fresh doubts about his future today after nearly half his MPs failed to back the flagship cigarettes ban
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - tipped as a potential future leader - was among those who voted against
The proposed ban cleared its first parliamentary hurdle last night by a margin of 383 to 67
Afterwards she voiced 'significant concerns' about the legislation, which would mean no-one aged 15 or under now will ever be able to buy cigarettes legally.
She told LBC that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will eventually 'mean a 50-year-old could do something and a 49-year-old couldn't'.
'How we draft legislation and the approach we take is just as important as the intentions,' she said.
'You know that phrase: the road to hell is paved with good intentions - it applies to so many areas of policy where we allow the thing we want to do to justify the means. But I don't think the end justifies the means.'
The infighting will fuel speculation that Mr Sunak could face a challenge if - as expected - the Tories suffer a meltdown in local elections next month.
Ms Badenoch was joined in voting against the Bill by fellow Government ministers Steve Baker, Alex Burghart, Andrew Griffith, Julia Lopez and Lee Rowley.
The 59 Tory MPs to oppose the plans - including two 'Noe' tellers - also included ex-Cabinet ministers Suella Braverman, Sir Simon Clarke, Robert Jenrick, and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.
A further 106 Conservatives failed to record a vote tonight, meaning many will have actively abstained.
Those not voting included Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and ex-defence secretary Ben Wallace.
After the vote, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting swiped that it was 'only thanks to Labour MPs' that
