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Rishi Sunak has said a new government crackdown on vape marketing will stop the “unacceptable” targeting of children and young people. 

Ministers have pledged to close a loophole that allows shops to offer free samples of vapes to children in England as concerns over the proportion of youngsters trying e-cigarettes mounts.

It comes days after the prime minister expressed concern about his own daughters potentially being targeted by vape marketing during an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.

There will also be a review into banning retailers selling “nicotine-free” vapes to under-18s, the government said, as well as a review of the rules on issuing fines to shops that illegally sell vapes to children.

The government said such reviews could make it easier for local trading standards officials to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices.

Ministers cited NHS figures from 2021 which revealed 9% of 11 to 15-year-olds used e-cigarettes – up from 6% in 2018.

Brightly coloured packaging and sweet flavours are encouraging children to try out vaping, campaigners say Pic: AP
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Brightly coloured packaging and sweet flavours are encouraging children to try out vaping, campaigners say Pic: AP

Mr Sunak said he was “deeply concerned” about the increase in children vaping, adding he was “shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of schoolchildren”.

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“Our new illicit vape enforcement squad – backed by £3m – is on the case but clearly there is more to do,” the prime minister said.

“That is why I am taking further action today to clamp down on rogue firms who unlawfully target our children with these products.”

He added that the marketing and the illegal sales of vapes to children are “completely unacceptable” and that he will do everything in his power to “end this practice for good”.

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty called the decision to close the loophole a “very welcome step”.

He said: “Whilst vaping can be an effective quitting tool for smokers, it is important that non-smokers are not encouraged to start vaping.

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Sunak on vape ‘enforcement squads’

“There has been a particularly worrying rise in the number of children using vapes, with companies clearly marketing these products at children using colours, flavours and cheap disposable options.

“Closing the loophole that allows companies to give out free samples of vaping products to under-18s is a very welcome step in tackling some of the harms caused by the vaping industry.”

He added: “We should continue to encourage smokers to swap to vaping as the lesser risk, whilst preventing the marketing and sale of vapes to children.”

Read more:
Number of children trying vaping rises 50% in a year in ‘tide of experimentation’
Sunak hits out at vape companies for appealing to children

The health risks of vaping will now also be included in Relatonships, Sex and Health Education lessons in schools as part of the ongoing government review of the curriculum.

And the crackdown will also see dedicated police school liaison officers work to keep illegal vapes out of schools.

Health minister Neil O’Brien described any marketing of vaping products to children as “shameful”.

He said the government would “review the rules on issuing on-the-spot fines to shops that break the law by selling vapes to underage youngsters, and look into banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under-18s – which we know can be a gateway to using nicotine products”.

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Image of Queen Elizabeth II was ‘digitally enhanced at source’, Getty picture agency says

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Image of Queen Elizabeth II was 'digitally enhanced at source', Getty picture agency says

A photograph of the late Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was “digitally enhanced at source”, according to Getty Images.

The picture agency says it has added an editor’s note to the image, which was shared by Kensington Palace in April 2023 on what would have been the late Queen’s 97th birthday.

The palace shared the picture on 21 April last year, saying it was taken by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral in the summer of 2022.

In a statement, Getty said: “Getty Images can confirm that in accordance with its editorial policy it has placed an editor’s note on a handout image stating the image has been digitally enhanced at source.”

The decision follows picture agencies issuing a “kill notice” for a photo released on Mother’s Day by the Princess of Wales. She later admitted to editing the image.

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New football regulator announced to vet prospective owners and prevent breakaway competitions

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New football regulator announced to vet prospective owners and prevent breakaway competitions

The government has announced its plan for an Independent Football Regulator (IFR) for the professional men’s game.

The IFR came about following a review by Tory MP Tracey Crouch, which itself was launched after the attempt by clubs to form the European Super League.

But the Premier League has responded by saying they “remain concerned” about the legislation, which they claim could unintentionally “weaken the competitiveness and appeal of English football“.

Among the measures contained in the IFR – which will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny – are:

• New “stronger tests” for new owners and directors to “stop clubs falling into the wrong hands”. They face being blocked and even struck off from future attempts;

• “Backstop powers” to sort out the financial distribution between the Premier League and English Football League, if they cannot come to an agreement themselves;

• All clubs from National League One to the Premier League will be need to be licensed to compete in competitions, following “a number of issues in recent years including financial mismanagement, breakaway plans for the European Super League, and changes to club names, badges and colours against the wishes of fans”;

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• New requirements to protect from “breakaway competitions” and “stadium relocations”;

• An obligation to consult fans on “key off-field decisions” will also be a requirement of the licence. This could include decisions on cub heritage and strategic direction.

Read more:
Minister urges clubs to seal football ‘New Deal’ ahead of legislation
Premier League shelves New Deal vote amid club stalemate

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As well as statutory regulation of football clubs, the government has also announced that the IFR will produce a periodical report, called “State of the Game”, which will analyse the financial state of football.

The government says the IFR will not be “overly-interventionist”, and will instead take an “advocacy first” approach – although these will be backed by a “broad suite of powers to investigate suspected non-compliance, compel information, and enforce if necessary”.

It is also pledged that the bill will have “no input in on-field decisions and will act in a way that minimises any impact on sporting competitions”.

A “shadow regulator” will be set up to run while the IFR is created, with a location, chair and board make-up all still up in the air.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Football has long been one of our greatest sources of national pride. Up and down the country, it brings people together in celebration or commiseration.

“But for too long some clubs have been abused by unscrupulous owners who get away with financial mismanagement, which at worst can lead to complete collapse – as we saw in the upsetting cases of Bury and Macclesfield Town.

“This bill is a historic moment for football fans – it will make sure their voices are front and centre, prevent a breakaway league, protect the financial sustainability of clubs, and protect the heritage of our clubs big and small.”

Ms Crouch said that “football fans can begin to breathe a sigh of relief in the knowledge that the next steps towards protecting the long term sustainability of the pyramid have now been taken”.

In response to the announcement, a spokesperson for the Premier League said it would study the bill once it is published.

“We agree it is vital that football clubs are sustainable, remain at the heart of their communities and that fans are fundamental to the game,” it added.

“The government has consistently stated that it wishes to support the Premier League’s continued global success which generates funding to help sustain the entire football pyramid.

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“With our clubs, we have advocated for a proportionate regime that enables us to build on our position as the most widely watched league in the world.

“Mindful that the future growth of the Premier League is not guaranteed, we remain concerned about any unintended consequences of legislation that could weaken the competitiveness and appeal of English football.”

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Rwanda bill amendments rejected by Commons as parliamentary ping pong begins

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Rwanda bill amendments rejected by Commons as parliamentary ping pong begins

The House of Commons has rejected the House of Lords’ first attempt to amend the Safety of Rwanda Bill – with the legislation sent back to the upper chamber.

A total of 10 amendments were put before MPs, but Conservatives voted each of them down.

Among the changes proposed by peers was scrapping the government’s plan to force judges to consider Rwanda as a safe country.

Politics latest: Sunak may face confidence vote ‘by accident’

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They also want to allow politicians and judges to consider evidence of whether Rwanda is safe – something which is prevented by the proposed law.

Another change suggested would prevent those who had served with or for the British armed forces from being sent to Rwanda if they arrived illegally in the UK.

The Commons debated the amendments for around four hours before voting began, with both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer both in attendance when divisions began.

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How MPs voted on the amendments

  • Amendment one: Seeks to ensure bill is fully compliant with rule of law – Rejected 328 to 250;
  • Amendment two: Removes claim that Rwanda is
  • Amendment three: Provides mechanism for parliament to be informed about treaty – Rejected 324 to 253;
  • Amendment four: Allows presumption Rwanda is safe to be rebutted with credible evidence – Rejected 321 to 252;
  • Amendment five: Allows courts to consider appeals based on the safety of Rwanda – Rejected 322 to 249;
  • Amendment six: Restores ability of courts and tribunals to consider if Rwanda is safe – Rejected 324 to 251;
  • Amendment seven: Courts can consider review claims regarding removals of children – Rejected 320 to 250;
  • Amendment eight: Parliament must be given a timeline for removals – Rejected 318 to 255;
  • Amendment nine: Seeks to protect victims of modern slavery from being deported – Rejected 320 to 251;
  • Amendment ten: Exempts armed forces personnel, their dependants and families from removal – Rejected 312 to 255.

MPs on opposition benches spoke in support of the amendments proposed by the upper chamber.

Labour’s shadow Home Office minister, Stephen Kinnock, said: “They each serve to make this shambolic mess of a Bill marginally less absurd, and as I will come to in a second, they would serve only to put in statute what ministers have actually promised from that despatch box.”

There was also opposition from the SNP’s Joanna Cherry, who said: “Based on the evidence I have read, and the evidence the Joint Committee on Human Rights has heard so far, based on what I heard and saw on the ground in Kigali, I remain of the view that Rwanda is still not a safe country for asylum seekers.”

Read more:
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Rwanda plan a leadership issue as much as a policy one | Beth Rigby

The Green Party’s Caroline Lucas called the bill an “extraordinary and profound attack” on constitutional democracy.

And the Conservative former minister Sir Jeremy Wright said he was “troubled” by the “absolutist, if not eternalist, nature of the wording of the bill”.

Tory former minister Sir Robert Buckland said he was minded to support some of the amendments, and indeed voted in favour of the second and fourth.

But there was support for the government from its backbenches during the debate.

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Which countries send asylum seekers abroad?

Sir Bill Cash said one of the amendments threatened parliamentary sovereignty and was “one of the most serious and dangerous clauses that I have seen in recent statutory history”.

And Richard Graham said the amendments were “not relevant” to what the government was trying to do.

The Lords are set to consider the bill with its removed amendments on Wednesday.

Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson emphasised the government’s belief that Rwanda is safe, following the agreement of a new treaty.

This sought to address concerns raised by the Supreme Court when they ruled previous legislation incompatible with human rights laws.

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Mr Tomlinson said: “It is the treaty, the bill and the published evidence pack which together demonstrate that Rwanda is safe for relocated individuals and that the government’s approach is tough but fair and lawful.

“The government is clear that we’ve assessed Rwanda to be safe and we’ve published evidence to substantiate that point.”

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