As you will have read, prime minister Rishi Sunak last week announced that the Government is to introduce an incremental rise in the age of sale of tobacco to stop future generations of adults buying cigarettes legally.

If passed by MPs (Labour has said it will support the measure) the policy will be introduced in 2027 and no-one currently aged 14 or younger will ever be allowed to buy cigarettes legally in the UK.

Forest was one of many voices opposed to the idea and Thursday was a particularly busy day for our director Simon Clark who appeared on BBC Breakfast (BBC1), the Five Live phone-in (with Nicky Campbell), BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio London, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Scotland, Channel 5 News, TalkTV (twice), Times Radio, and Sky News Radio.

Our reaction to Sunak's announcement (PM accused of "creeping prohibition") was also reported by BBC News, ITV News, Sky News, MailOnline, Daily Express, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent, The Sun, Daily Record, Press Association, Wales Online, Perspective Magazine, Reason Magazine, Washington Examiner and many more.

In a message to supporters via the Taking Liberties blog, Clark said: "I’m not saying we will stop this absurd, illiberal policy - although it ought to concern anyone who believes in freedom of choice and personal responsibility - but with proper (and I mean proper) resources we’ll at least go down fighting. We love a challenge and this ain’t over."

Watch this space.

David Hockney: Too many bossy people in England

Among the many articles opposing a generational ban on the sale of cigarettes was a piece written by David Hockney and published by the Sunday Times (Sunak says smoking kills — but guess what, we’ll all die anyway).

According to Britain’s greatest living artist:

'There are too many bossy people in England. It was one of the reasons I started spending more time in Normandy. Bossy people are humourless. This is just madness to me. Why can’t Mr Sunak leave the smokers alone?'

He added:

'In 2005 I fought to stop the ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants. At the Labour Party conference I held up a card saying ‘DEATH awaits you all even if you do smoke’.

That's a reference, by the way, to his appearance at a fringe meeting hosted by Forest. For the full story of that extraordinary day, click here: Unforgettable - David Hockney at the Labour Party conference.

Below: David Hockney at the Hilton Hotel in Brighton where Forest had arranged a photo op that was subsequently interrupted by anti-tobacco campaigner Stuart Holmes. Photo: Shutterstock

Smoking Gun: The infantilisation of Britain

Talking of fringe meetings, Forest's event at the Conservative conference last week could not have been more timely.

With rumours circulating that the prime minister was about to announce a ban on selling cigarettes to future generations, our panel – chaired by Forest director Simon Clark and featuring Reem Ibrahim and Chris Snowdon (Institute of Economic Affairs), and Mark Oates (We Vape) – was well placed to discuss this suddenly topical issue.

If you missed it (it was live streamed) you can watch the discussion on YouTube here, or click on the image below.

Pack inserts to 'encourage more smokers to quit'

And finally, the Department of Health and Social Care is currently inviting members of the public and professional bodies to 'Have your say on adding health information pack inserts to tobacco products to encourage more smokers to quit'.

As a smoker do you want to be confronted with further health messages when you open the pack, and will you actually read them? What about the environmental costs of all that additional paper and ink? And, most important, who will ultimately pay for it – the consumer?

Closing date is tomorrow – Tuesday 10th October – so do make your views known via the online consultation form.