British Conservatives have just adopted the strictest smoking ban in the world. Conservative MPs hate it – POLITICO

Blue Fury

In fact, 59 Conservative MPs voted against the measure at second reading Tuesday evening. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch – seen as a key contender to become the next leader if the Conservatives lost the election – was among Sunak’s ministerial ranks who voted against the bill, citing that she described as “significant concerns”.

Before the crisis, and mindful of likely opposition from his party, which includes a large Libertarian caucus, Sunak had proposed a free, whipless vote. This meant that his parliamentary troops could rebel without being punished for reasons of conscience.

The opposition Labor Party, leading the polls in an election year, described the move as a sign of weakness on Sunak’s part. Labor MPs were ordered to vote in favor of the bill.

In a sign of the psychodrama surrounding the vote, some of the harshest criticism of Sunak’s plan came from the prime minister’s immediate predecessors – each of whom had their own stake to argue with Sunak after years of infighting with the Tories.

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss told the BBC the plans were “not conservative” – and voted against the bill. She warned MPs during Tuesday’s Commons debate that “the health police” would next attempt to restrict food and alcohol.

Truss’ predecessor Boris Johnson, who is no longer an MP, also called the plans “crazy”.