He smoked up to 10 cigars a day and reportedly once likened enjoying the fragrant rolled tobacco to falling in love.
Winston Churchill’s enjoyment of a fine Havana is the stuff of legend and he was repeatedly pictures with one gripped in his pugnacious jaw. He even has a line named after him.
But a senior minister has suggested the legendary wartime leader and Tory icon would have backed Rishi Sunak’s plan for a smoking ban.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins used Churchill to hit back at party critics of the plan for a rolling age limit on using tobacco, amid claims that the legislation is ‘unconservative’.
Boris Johnson and Liz Truss have led a fightback against the law, which returns to the Commons this week, with Mr Johnson saying it is ‘nuts’ and asking a Canadian conference why ‘the party of Winston Churchill wants to ban cigars’.
But writing in the Telegraph today, the Health Secretary said: ‘Is this policy Conservative, some have asked? I profoundly believe it is. In doing so I draw inspiration from the words of a brilliant former Daily Telegraph correspondent, who became our greatest prime minister.
‘I am referring, of course, to Winston Churchill, who once wrote of his relief from passing from ‘the tossing sea of Cause and Theory to the firm ground of Result and Fact’.
She added: ‘One of the foundations of the Conservative Party is that we take tough decisions to protect future generations. That applies to the burdens of debt repayments and growing the economy. It should apply to addiction too.’
Winston Churchill’s enjoyment of a fine Havana is the stuff of legend and he was repeatedly pictures with one gripped in his pugnacious jaw. He even has a line named after him.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins used Churchill to hit back at party critics of the plan for a rolling age limit on using tobacco, amid claims that the legislation is ‘unconservative’.
The ban enjoys wide public support and is expected to become law with opposition help, despite suggestions almost 100 Tory backbenchers will refuse to back it.
The rebellion is over a plan to raise the minimum age for buying tobacco every year to phase out smoking.
It would effectively mean that anyone currently aged 15 or younger will never be able to buy cigarettes.
The Mail on Sunday understands fellow ex-PM Liz Truss will speak against the plans in this week’s Commons debate.
MPs are being given a free vote on the issue – meaning there can be no formal revolt against the Government even though reports yesterday said at least three Cabinet ministers will vote against the plan.
And one senior Tory branded the decision not to impose a three-line Whip as a ‘sign of weakness by Rishi, not strength’.
Ms Truss has branded Mr Sunak’s bid to effectively ban young people from smoking as ‘profoundly unconservative’.
Mr Johnson on Wednesday evening joined the Tory anger at Mr Sunak’s proposals as he criticised policies that were being carried out ‘in the name of conservatism’.
‘We are, on the whole, in favour of freedom and it is that single Anglo-Saxon idea of freedom that I think unites conservatives, or should unite conservatives,’ he said.
‘And when I look at some of the things that we are doing now, or that are being done in the name of conservatism, I think they are absolutely nuts.’
Mr Johnson added: ‘When the party of Winston Churchill wants to ban cigars, donnez-moi un break as they say in Quebec, it’s just mad.’
