Torbay’s leader and Director of Public Health have joined council leaders and directors of public health from every local council in the South West to demand the immediate passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

Councillor David Thomas and Dr Lincoln Sargeant have added their signatures to the letter, which has been sent to the Minister for Public Health and Prevention.

The joint letter urges the Government to resist any amendments that would weaken the Bill and to ensure it receives Royal Assent before the parliamentary session ends.

The intervention highlights the scale of the tobacco epidemic in the region. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the South West, claiming over 6,500 lives annually - equivalent to more than 17 deaths every single day.

Benji Hadwell, South West Smokefree Lead, said: "The leaders responsible for the well-being of the South West are united. We see the heartbreak of families losing loved ones and the heavy burden placed on our NHS. We are calling on Parliament to pass this Bill swiftly and decisively, and to ensure that the key measures are not diluted by damaging amendments."

The letter highlights that the region is firmly behind the 'Smokefree Generation' policy, which would ensure no child born on or after 1 January 2009 can ever legally be sold tobacco. Polling from Action on Smoking and Health shows that 7 in 10 adults in the South West support the policy, with over 9 in 10 supporting bans on smoking in children’s play areas and school grounds.

Councillor Thomas said: “Around 15,000 adults in Torbay currently smoke. Many began when they were young and wish they had never started. Reducing the appeal and accessibility of tobacco products is one of the most effective ways to protect young people. We are therefore urging the Government and our local MPs to prioritise the health of our children over the interests of the tobacco industry.”