The King's Speech last week confirmed that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intends to press ahead with legislation to raise the age of sale of tobacco by one year every year until no-one can legally purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products.

But that was last week. Yesterday the Secretary of State for Health, Steve Barclay, was demoted to Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and public health minister Neil O’Brien returned to the backbenches to spend more time with his family.

And if that wasn’t enough, some political commentators are now openly speculating about a challenge to Rishi Sunak’s leadership in the New Year.

So where does that leave opponents of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill?

Well, in response to a policy that threatens to treat future generations of adults like children (see ‘King’s Speech: Activists decry generational ban’), Forest is inviting opponents of the proposed legislation to discuss the issue with us in London on Monday 20th November.

The event, at Old Queen Street Cafe in Westminster, features Claire Fox (aka Baroness Fox of Buckley), Henry Hill (ConservativeHome), Reem Ibrahim (Institute of Economic Affairs), and Ella Whelan (Academy of Ideas).

Also speaking is Simon Clark, director of Forest and author of a new Letter on Liberty, 'Freedom: Up In Smoke?', published by the Academy of Ideas, but it’s essential to hear from YOU too, so please join us.

What politics tells us is that nothing is settled until it is, so there is plenty we can do before the Tobacco and Vapes Bill becomes law under this ‘Conservative’ government.

So join us on Monday and make YOUR voice heard!

  

If you're unfamiliar with Old Queen Street Cafe, it was opened last year by the same people who run the online magazine UnHerd, whose office is next door.

The cafe is open from 8.00am to 11.00pm for breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner, or events such as this and is definitely worth a visit.

You'll find us on the first floor where we've booked the Library and Club Bar (above) for drinks and canapés from 6.15pm, followed by what should be lively discussion from 7.00-8.15, with further drinks after that.

If you’d like to join us and haven't registered yet, please reserve your place now. RSVP [email protected] or go to our event page on Eventbrite.

Update: The Institute of Economic Affairs will also be discussing the generational smoking ban when the free market think tank hosts ‘Prohibition 2.0: the future of UK tobacco policy' on Wednesday November 29.

Chaired by Reem Ibrahim, speakers include the IEA’s Chris Snowdon, Madeline Grant (Telegraph), Paul North (Volteface), and retailer Paul Cheema (Association of Convenience Stores). For details click here.