The prime minister is facing another rebellion from his party over his plans to ban young people from ever smoking again.

Should the Tobacco and Vapes Bill eventually be passed into law, it would be an offence to sell tobacco products to anyone born after 1 January 2009.

This means children aged 15 or younger today will never legally be able to buy a cigarette.

The plan was one of Rishi Sunak‘s three key policies he announced at the Tory party conference last year.

However, some more laissez-faire Conservatives have criticised the ban, meaning the prime minister could have to rely on support from the other side of the Commons to get the bill over the line.

Opponents of the ban include Mr Sunak’s predecessor, Liz Truss, who has described the plans as “profoundly unconservative” and Boris Johnson, who branded the move “nuts”.

Tory MPs have been granted a free vote on the legislation, and several are expected to oppose it when it has its first full debate in the Commons on Tuesday.

However, Labour will back the proposals, making it likely the legislation will clear this first hurdle regardless of Conservative opposition.

The bill would not criminalise smoking itself, and those aged 18 or over can forever buy cigarettes without legal repercussions.

However, older people may have to carry ID if they want to buy cigarettes in the future.

The ban aims to stop people from smoking even before they start as the government pointed to its highly addictive nature with four in five smokers picking it up before the age of 20, remaining addicted for life.

Shops that flout the rules will face on-the-spot fines – money which the government says it will use for further crackdowns.

Earlier this year, New Zealand‘s new coalition government repealed what would have been a world-first ban on young people ever being able to buy cigarettes.

UK’s biggest preventable killer

Smoking is the UK’s biggest preventable killer and is responsible for about 80,000 deaths yearly, causing cancer, lung and heart diseases and chronic bronchitis among other health issues.

The Department of Health and Social Care said in England alone, almost every minute someone with a smoking-related condition is admitted to hospital.

It also costs the NHS and economy an estimated £17bn a year – exceeding the £10bn annual revenue brought in from tobacco taxes.

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Victoria Atkins, health and social care secretary, said the bill would “save thousands of lives”, help the NHS and improve the UK’s productivity.

Ms Atkins said: “The truth is that there is no safe level of tobacco consumption. It is uniquely harmful and that is why we are taking this important action today to protect the next generation.”

Numerous heads have reiterated their support for the bill including Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, Deborah Arnott, head of charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), and the chief of the British Heart Foundation, Dr Charmaine Griffiths.

Ms Arnott said: “New research published by ASH shows that the majority of tobacco retailers and the public, including smokers, support the legislation and the smoke-free generation ambition it is designed to deliver.

“This historic legislation will consign smoking to the ‘ash heap of history’.”

Bras are a basic necessity and should not be subject to VAT, according to radiographers.

Diagnostic radiographers who carry out X-rays, MRI and CT scans, are set to argue later that the tax disproportionately affects women and could be considered discriminatory under the Equality Act.

They say musculoskeletal problems, which can lead to individuals having time off work, can be caused by poorly-fitted bras.

Proposing the motion on Tuesday during their three-day annual conference in Leeds, delegates will say: “Those who are wearing a bra size D or above often get backaches, aching shoulders and neck pain, because of the weight of their breasts.

“Wearing a good-quality, well-fitted bra could alleviate some of these issues, and reduce time off sick for musculoskeletal issues.

“The imposition of VAT on bras disproportionately affects women. Taxing bras could be considered discriminatory as per the Equality Act 2010.”

According to data gathering website Statista, the average amount spent on a bra in the UK in 2020 was £15-30.

Currently only women who have had breast cancer surgery – whether a mastectomy, partial mastectomy or lumpectomy – are exempt from VAT when buying certain bras.

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But radiographers are expected to liken bras to menstrual products as a necessity, therefore meaning they should be excluded from the tax.

Back in January, VAT on period pants was dropped following a two-year campaign by brands, retailers, women’s groups and environmentalists.

It followed the reverse of the so-called “tampon tax” in 2021 which meant other period products such as pads, tampons and menstrual cups were not taxed.

A woman has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a baby in 1998.

Baby “Callum” was discovered in a woodland area in Warrington 26 years ago.

Police arrested a man and a woman from Liverpool in relation to the incident in July 2023 and they were subsequently released on bail.

The woman, who has been named as Joanne Sharkey, 54, was rearrested on Monday and has been charged with murder.

She has been remanded in custody and will appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Detective Inspector Hannah Friend said: “I understand that this is an extremely emotional case which has attracted a lot of attention over the past 26 years, however I would ask people not to speculate.

“Criminal proceedings are now active against Joanne Sharkey, and she has the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

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The man who was arrested as part of the investigation has been released without charge.

Detectives named the infant Callum after the Callands district of Warrington where he was found dead, as his identity could not be confirmed.

A burial and funeral service was arranged by local people and he was buried in Warrington Cemetery a few months later.

The headstone, which was paid for with money raised by local residents, was inscribed: “Baby Callum, precious child of God. Laid to rest July 27, 1998. With love, from the people of Warrington.”