DUP Politicans Clash Over Tobacco Packaging

TWO senior DUP politicians have clashed over plans to bring in plain tobacco packaging, the News Letter has reported.

Health minister Edwin Poots has endorsed the Westminster plan for plain standardised tobacco packaging, but North Antrim MP Ian Paisley said the idea was "ludicrous".

A consultation was launched in April to ask individuals whether they think standardised packaging will have an impact on people’s health and reduce the uptake of smoking.

It will close on Friday.

When the consultation was first launched in March, Mr Poots said he fully supported the concept and reducing smoking rates was one of the biggest challenges in public health.

He said: "I fully support the concept of plain packaging and value its potential as a tobacco control measure which could further help prevent young people from starting to smoke and support current smokers to quit.

But Mr Paisley disagreed, saying the plans would "do nothing to achieve public health objectives but will rather punish local businesses, increase smuggling and infringe fundamental legal rights".

Last month Mr Paisley initiated an open letter last month which was signed by 51 MPs opposing the plain packaging plan.

Mr Poots said in a statement: "While I support the concept of plain packaging, I will be carefully considering the responses to the consultation before determining whether this measure should be introduced in Northern Ireland."

(NE)