Labour MP Mary Glindon has voiced serious concerns about the government’s planned tax increase on vaping liquid, which is set to come into effect in October 2026, during the Budget debate in the Commons.
In Chancellor Rachel Reeves' recent Budget, a new tax of £2.20 per 10ml of vape liquid was announced, alongside a £2.20 rise in tobacco duty per 100 cigarettes. While the government claims this initiative will encourage smokers to switch to vaping, Glindon, the representative for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, argues that it could have unintended consequences.
“As chair for the APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) on responsible vaping, I have concerns about the announced tax on vaping liquid from 2026,” Glindon said. “This tax will also hurt working people throughout the North East who rely on vaping to keep them off cigarettes.”
“There are still six million smokers who are yet to make the switch to vaping, to now put a tax on vaping will only serve to discourage these smokers to quit,” Glindon said.
The tax, she said, would also make the UK’s vaping tax one of the highest in Europe. “The vaping tax proposed by the Chancellor is unsustainably high, at 22p per millilitre of vape liquid.”
Glindon described the financial implications of this tax on everyday consumers. “Currently, many stores will sell vaping liquid for refillable devices for 99p, under the Chancellor’s proposals this will increase by 267% to £3.64,” she said.
In addition, Glindon refuted the idea that the accessibility of vaping products is driving youth vaping rates.“Access to vaping liquids is not what is driving youth vaping, she said. “The government is already looking to address this through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.”
Finally, she pointed to the public health benefits of vaping as a smoking cessation tool, noting that many former smokers have seen health improvements from switching to vaping, which, in turn, saves the NHS considerable money.
“Switching from smoking to the less-harmful alternative” has saved the NHS “tens of thousands of pounds per person.” Glindon said.
