Rishi Sunak’s “absurd” phased ban on smoking will not help the Conservative Party climb the “electoral mountain” it is currently facing, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned. 

The former business secretary was one of 165 Tory MPs who either abstained or voted against the ban as the Prime Minister’s plan cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons last night with the help of Labour support. 

Sir Jacob said he believed the Government was focusing on the wrong issues and had brought forward an “ill-thought through and essentially absurd” piece of legislation. 

He told GB News: “The Conservative Party has an electoral mountain to climb. If we want to overturn the Labour lead in the opinion polls, we need to start pursuing conservative policies and show a sense of proportion.

“How many voters will switch back to the Tories because of this complex and impractical ban, aggressively pushed by the people who gave us endless lockdowns?”

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone who turned 15 this year or younger, with the aim of creating a “smoke-free” generation.

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