I’m not a smoker and think it is an unpleasant habit, costly for both the individual and society. The PM's intentions with this Bill are honest and mark him out as a leader who doesn't duck the thorny issues. I agree with his policy intentions BUT….(1/4)
I have significant concerns and appreciate the PM making this a free vote. It gives me the opportunity to express my personal view, outside collective responsibility. The principle of equality under the law is a fundamental one. It underpins many of my personal beliefs..(2/4)
We should not treat legally competent adults differently in this way, where people born a day apart will have permanently different rights. Among other reasons it will create difficulties with enforcement. This burden will fall not on the state but on private businesses… (3/4)
Smoking rates are already declining significantly in the UK and I think there is more we can do to stop children taking up the habit. However, I do not support the approach this bill is taking and so will be voting against it. (4/4)
@KemiBadenoch You're just a transphobe. That's it. You are not "defending" anyone, you are attacking us. Stop it.
@KemiBadenoch So you're against people having to wait additional years to collect their pensions because they're born a day apart from a cohort for which a different pension age limit applies?
@KemiBadenoch "people born a day apart will have permanently different rights" is a really interesting point and a valid one. My response would be that it would only be until that generation died out - similar to differences in pension provisions perhaps?
@KemiBadenoch Isn't this already the case in some regards though? A person who passed their driving test prior to 1997 can drive a minibus for example, anyone who passed later can't. This is largely determined by the age of a person. I'm sure there are other examples
@KemiBadenoch "where people born a day apart will have permanently different rights." Ahem... student debt, pensions, minimum wage, etc
@KemiBadenoch People born a day apart.....you've run that past HMRC re pensions, right?
@KemiBadenoch Not treating adults in a different way, born a day apart? The WASPI Women would like a word, as does anyone who has to work through to 68 instead of 65 before SP age. God knows what someone of my relative youth will have to be. There's always a cut-off point, Kemi. Always.
@KemiBadenoch You do get that laws already exist based on age from 18 to 19, 19 to 20 and 20 to 21? For example a 21 year old has the following legal rights over a 20 year old: Supervising a learner driver. Adopting a child Leaving care I assume you want all rights to start at 18?
@KemiBadenoch Minimum wage rates... Retirement ages... Adoption...