Cigarettes could be banned in just a few years under Labour proposal

THE sale of cigarettes could be banned in just a few years under a Labour proposal.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the plan to cut cigarette sales would not only improve Brits' health, but ease pressure on the NHS.

Labour's Mr Streeting said the party will debate a number of options, including a New Zealand-style gradual ban on tobacco.

Smoking costs the health service billions each year and reducing it could free up much-needed cash.

And the Government is aiming to get the adult smoking rate down to 5% or less by 2030.

But, it is widely expected to be missed without drastic action.

And a report published in recent months suggested the smoking age should increase each year until Brits can't buy cigarettes.

Mr Streeting also suggested cigarette sales could eventually be outlawed if Labour take power.

He told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: "One of the things that was recommended to the Government in one of their reviews was phasing out the sale of cigarettes altogether over time.

"We'll be consulting on that and a whole range of other measures.

"Well, the New Zealand government are doing it. We want to see how that works. But I'm genuinely curious.

"If we're going to get the NHS back on track we also need to focus on public health. And I'm curious to know where the voters are on this, where the country is and what appetite exists for change.

"So we're going to be... have to think radically. What the Government have done to the NHS is a disgrace.

"It's going to take time to fix it and fresh radical thinking and that's what Labour's about."

But, critics have hit out at Labour's nanny-state approach and said it could cost billions in lost tax revenue.

Tory MP Scott Benton hit back: "What price liberty and freedom? 

"This kind of nanny state, health fascism in trying to dictate what people should do and how they should live their lives is offensive nonsense. 

"It’s an attack on ordinary people and their culture from metropolitan do-gooders who haven’t a clue how the working class live their lives.

"What would a future Labour government also ban? Fatty foods? Alcohol? Gambling? The mind boggles."

New Zealand last month became the first country in the world to ban young people from buying cigarettes in a scheme to eventually make the whole nation smoke-free.

Its Government will steadily rise the smoking age to prevent tobacco being sold to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.