Nigel Farage was recorded as absent for the vote on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening, at the same time he was preparing to present his GB News show.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill passed its first parliamentary hurdle comfortably by 415 votes to 47. The legislation, if passed unamended at future stages, would mean anyone born after 1 January 2009 will be prevented from buying tobacco.
Other measures proposed by the bill include a total ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, with a possible ban on the sale of sweet vape flavours, subject to consultation.
But while four out of five Reform UK MPs voted against the legislation, Farage was busy recording his GB News show.
Nigel Farage at 7.00pm yesterday, just after the Tobacco and Vapes Bill division (which he was absent for):
— Josh Self (@josh-self.bsky.social) 2024-11-27T09:28:57.364Z
Farage addressed his absence on the programme, telling viewers: “I bet I get a load of stick for appearing on here at 7 pm. Because this afternoon we have a debate on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill’s second reading.
“Believe you me, the Cromwellians are fully in charge.”
He added: “The reason I’m not voting at 7 pm is because it is going pass with a majority of about 300 I think, and I think I’m better off here debating national issues on GB News in a situation like that.”
At prime minister’s questions earlier this month, Farage was mocked for making a “rare” appearance in the commons after spending time in the United States showing support for president-elect Donald Trump.
Responding to the Reform leader’s question, prime minister Keir Starmer said: “I’m glad to see (Mr Farage) making a rare appearance back here in Britain, he spends so much time in America recently, I was half expecting to see him on the immigration statistics.”
Although the Tobacco and Vapes Bill did pass overwhelmingly (415-47), Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was among 35 Tory MPs who voted against the legislation.
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, also opposed the bill, alongside fellow senior Conservatives former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith and former home secretary Suella Braverman.
Rishi Sunak, who proposed the smoking ban as prime minister in 2023, also did not attend the vote.
Seven Liberal Democrat MPs opposed the bill, including former leader Tim Farron and justice spokesperson Josh Babarinde.
No Labour Party, Green Party or SNP MP voted against the bill.
Like Sunak, I guess he could have been paired, but Reform leader Nigel Farage was also absent for the vote That pairing would have had to have been organised by Reform chief whip Lee Anderson(Also: Farage's GB News show starts at 7.00pm – the vote was at 18.46pm)
— Josh Self (@josh-self.bsky.social) 2024-11-27T09:07:12.045Z
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on Bluesky here.
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The post Nigel Farage skips smoking ban vote to present GB News show appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
