Special Report | Will UK Vaping Policy Shift After PM Sunak's Election Defeat?

On July 5th, the results of the UK general election were announced with the Conservative Party suffering a crushing defeat. The current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, admitted defeat while the leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, won a landslide victory and is set to become the next Prime Minister. This marks the return of the Labour Party to power and the end of the Conservative Party's 14-year rule.

The latest forecast from the BBC shows that the Conservative Party will only have 144 members of Parliament - the lowest total for them after an election since the 1930s.

Earlier, the British government announced a comprehensive ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes before April 2025, as well as restrictions on the flavors of refillable open-system e-cigarettes. Additionally, manufacturers have been required to use simpler, visually less appealing packaging. This ban has received overwhelming support, with nearly 70% of parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, and the general public backing this measure.

Meanwhile, the conservative government led by Prime Minister Sunak has proposed a landmark tobacco and e-cigarette bill. However, it is likely to be put on hold as it was not included in a series of bills set to be passed before the next general election, as predicted by experts.

Will the new government formed by the UK Labour Party change the Conservative Party's policies on tobacco? How will Starmer and the Labour Party's stance on new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes be? Will the UK follow Australia's policies on e-cigarettes?

Who is Keir Starmer?

Born in 1962, Keir Starmer is the current leader of the British Labour Party. He studied law at the University of Leeds and later completed a postgraduate degree at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Prior to entering politics, Starmer had a successful career as a barrister, becoming a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 2002. From 2008 to 2013, he served as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), known for his work on human rights and public interest cases.

In 2015, Starmer was first elected as a Member of Parliament and quickly rose through the ranks within the Labour Party. In 2016, he became the Shadow Brexit Secretary, a position within the UK opposition cabinet responsible for overseeing and scrutinizing government policies, proposing alternative solutions, and criticizing and advising the government in their respective areas. He played a significant role in formulating Labour's Brexit strategy and in April 2020, he replaced Jeremy Corbyn as the leader of the Labour Party.

As the leader of the Labour Party, Starmer is committed to repositioning the party to attract a broader range of voters, emphasizing economic stability, healthcare, and social justice.

Following the defeat of the Labour Party in the 2019 general election, leader Keir Starmer is working to restore the party's credibility and electability. He is advocating for responsible fiscal policies to rebuild the economy, committed to reducing waiting times in the National Health Service (NHS), improving healthcare services, addressing inequality, and supporting working families.

It is worth noting that Stamer is also a vegetarian, believing that "eating vegetarian is better for both oneself and the environment." In today's European and American political arena, politicians with environmentalist tendencies are more appealing to Generation Z. Vegetarianism is considered not only beneficial for the environment, but also has various health benefits for individuals, making politicians who advocate vegetarianism more popular.

Cultivate the Healthiest Generation of Children

According to the information currently known, the Labour Party will not change the Conservative Party's "political legacy" on tobacco and even e-cigarettes.

Before the election began, the Labour Party stated that if the party were to win the national election on July 4th, they would also ban the legal purchase of cigarettes for the next generation.

Previously, Sunak had considered introducing the world's strictest anti-smoking rules, banning anyone aged 15 and under from purchasing cigarettes. However, his plan failed to become law before he announced his election, casting doubt on the policy.

Stamper announced the party's policy plans, focusing on achieving political and economic stability and improving health conditions. According to pre-election polls, the Labor Party leads by a wide margin in terms of support.

The declaration document clearly states: "We must take preventive public health measures to address the biggest killer, helping people live longer and healthier lives. This starts with smoking."

Stamer himself rarely discusses new tobacco issues such as e-cigarettes, but in an interview he promised that if he wins the next election, he will help cultivate the healthiest generation of children. He advocates for a "nanny state" policy to promote children's health, with the Labor Party planning to ban the use of children-friendly flavors and colors in e-cigarettes, as well as introducing breakfast clubs in primary schools and banning e-cigarette advertisements targeted at children.

Labour Party: E-cigarette Industry Should "Return to Its Roots"

In addition to his stance on Brexit, the Labour Party ministers led by him are more focused on domestic tobacco issues and proposing more aggressive measures.

In December 2023, the UK Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated that the Labour Party is considering classifying e-cigarettes as prescription medications to prevent adolescents from becoming dependent on this "gateway drug." Streeting publicly criticized the "big tobacco companies" and the e-cigarette industry for their handling of the issue of children inhaling vapor, calling their approach "false compassion.

Streeting revealed in an interview that he is considering implementing the same policy after consulting with Australian Health Minister Mark Butler. Streeting stated that the Labor Party is considering classifying e-cigarettes as prescription drugs to ensure that only adults attempting to quit smoking can use e-cigarettes, rather than becoming a "gateway" for children to start smoking.

During his visit to Australia, he stated that the e-cigarette industry should "return to its original intention" and only serve as a genuine smoking cessation aid, selling only to those who are actively trying to quit smoking.

Australia's policy was relaxed in June this year, after the Australian government reached an agreement with the Green Party. The revised bill was passed in the Senate and will be signed by the government-controlled House of Representatives to become law. The bill allows pharmacies to sell e-cigarettes without a prescription, which has sparked strong opposition from many medical associations. They are concerned that this move lacks discussion and may have adverse effects on public health. Health Minister Butler believes this is to balance the accessibility of e-cigarettes with their original purpose as a therapeutic tool.

If Sterling considers emulating Australia, then Australia's current policies obviously have a strong reference value for the incoming Labor government.

Cover image source: BBC