King Charles confirms plan for UK smoking ban in historic parliament speech

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King Charles III has confirmed a UK smoking ban will come into effect during an historic parliament speech today (November 7).

An announcement from the King of England came today during a speech to the House of Lords in the official opening of Parliament. His announcement flagged several government proposals which will be seen throughout the upcoming year.

Aside from housing and crime agendas, one of the major plans heard in the King's speech was a smoking ban. Announced earlier this year, the cutdown on smoking and eventual ban is set to take effect.

READ MORE: Huge Rishi Sunak effigy carried through streets for UK bonfire as revellers boo

For the latest news and updates on the Royal Family, click here.

Under laws set to be pitched by the government, anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, will be refused tobacco or cigarettes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes it is the "right thing for our kids".

He said in an earlier statement: "If we are to do the right thing for our kids, we must try and stop teenagers taking up cigarettes in the first place. Because without a significant change thousands of children will start smoking in the coming years and have their lives cut short as a result."

King Charles has since revealed the Government is set to ban future generations from smoking, with his speech to the House of Lords today referencing the legislation. The UK appears set to follow New Zealand's goal of being smoke free by 2025, LADBible reported.

He said the Government plans to "introduce legislation to create a smoke free generation by restricting the sale of tobacco … and restricting the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes to children."

Smoking costs the UK around £17billion a year, according to the Government, who say a £10bn chunk of this is lost through productivity alone. The government is aiming for its first "smoke free generation" and hopes to achieve this by 2040.

King Charles also confirmed the Government is set to try and bring a "further crackdown on youth vaping". A consultation is reportedly underway on how to get adults to quit and how to protect children from smoke.

Government plans come just a day after a huge Sunak effigy was carried through the streets of the UK and booed. Festivities in Lewes, Sussex, marked an appearance for effigies of Suella Braverman and Jeremy Hunt also.

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• Smoking
• Royal Family
• Rishi Sunak
• King Charles III

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