Chief medical officer Chris Whitty issues message to anyone opposed to smoking ban

Professor Sir Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, has said those opposed to the ban on selling tobacco products should be “against something which takes away people’s choices,” as addiction often starts at a young age.

The Prime Minister has granted his MPs a free vote on the issue later on Tuesday (16 April), with several expected to reject the plan.

The plan, which would make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after January 1 2009, was announced by Rishi Sunak in his speech to the Conservative Party conference last year.

During BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Sir Chris said: “A great majority of smokers wish they had never started, but now they’re in trouble.”