Rishi Sunak’s plan to introduce a phased ban on smoking risks making it “cooler”, a former Cabinet minister has warned. 

Sir Simon Clarke said he believed the ban was unconservative and argued it could fuel a black market and create an “unmanageable challenge for the authorities” to enforce it. 

The former levelling up secretary made the comments this morning during an interview on BBC Radio 4 Today as MPs prepare to debate and vote on Mr Sunak’s plan for the first time later today. 

Mr Sunak’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill will make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after Jan 1 2009. 

But the Prime Minister is facing another Tory rebellion, with many of his own MPs opposed to the move on freedom grounds.  

Conservative MPs have been granted a free vote on the issue but if the Tory revolt is large it could mean Mr Sunak is reliant on Labour votes to get one of his flagship policies through the House of Commons.

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