The Chancellor’s inflation-busting hike in tobacco duty could drive even more people to vote for Reform, say campaigners.

Accusing the Government of punishing smokers from lower socio-economic backgrounds, Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ rights group Forest, said:

“Punitive duty on tobacco discriminates against all law-abiding consumers, but the hardest hit are those from poorer backgrounds.

“It also fuels illicit trade, costing the Treasury billions of pounds in lost revenue.

“Faced with yet another tax hike, many of Britain’s 4.9 million smokers may be persuaded to vote for Reform, which is currently the only party that isn’t determined to punish them for their habit.”

Responding to the vaping products duty that the Chancellor confirmed will be introduced in 2026, Clark added:

“Applying what is effectively a sin tax on vaping will not only create a black market, it could discourage many smokers from switching to a significantly reduced risk product.”