Doctors call for ‘bold actions’ to tackle ‘vaping epidemic’ among youngsters

Top doctors have called for legislation aimed at tackling youth vaping to include a total ban on disposable e-cigarettes and all flavours apart from tobacco.

The British Medical Association (BMA) urged ministers to “take bold and brave actions” to protect the health of children and young people amid a “vaping epidemic”.

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill earlier this year, which included plans to ban disposable e-cigarettes and introduce restrictions on flavours and packaging.

However, it was shelved after the General Election was announced in May.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer revived the Bill following Labour’s victory at the July 4 vote, although details on the measures included in the proposed legislation are yet to be published.

Dr Penelope Toff, chair of the BMA’s public health medicine committee, called on the current Government “to go even further” than the plans outlined by Mr Sunak.

She described the BMA report – Taking our breath away: why we need stronger regulation of vapes – as a “blueprint” of the actions that should be taken by ministers.

It calls for a ban on the sale of disposable vapes “on the grounds of disproportionate and harmful use by children and young people and their adverse impact on the environment”.

The BMA also suggests all vape flavours apart from tobacco should be banned, with measures introduced to prohibit the use of imagery, colouring and branding on packaging and e-cigarettes, as well as further restrictions on all advertising and marketing.

Salma Ouaguira28 August 2024 22:30

Economic growth in Scotland matched UK in second quarter, GDP figures show

GDP growth in Scotland was level with the UK in the second quarter of this year – with Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes saying the latest figures show a “growing and resilient economy”.

She was speaking after initial figures revealed GDP for the period April to June was up by 0.6 per cent from the first three months of 2024.

That meant Scotland enjoyed the same level of economic growth as the UK as a whole in the second quarter.

With the latest rise coming after GDP grew 0.5 per cent over January to March, it means Scotland’s economy is now estimated to be 0.9 per cent larger than it was in April to June 2023, with this growth again matching that of the UK.

It comes after initial GDP figures for the second quarter of this year showed that while output in the construction sector fell by 0.1 per cent, the services sector – which accounts for the bulk of the economy – grew by 0.6 per cent. In addition, output in the production sector was up 0.8 per cent.

Ms Forbes, also the Economy Secretary, said: “Overall these figures paint a picture of a growing and resilient economy.

“The Scottish Government has made economic growth a clear priority and I am pleased to see consistent overall growth over the past six months despite harsh economic climates.

“We are investing more than £5 billion in 2024-25 to drive the economy and further initiatives will be detailed in the forthcoming Programme for Government and our Green Industrial Strategy.”

Salma Ouaguira28 August 2024 22:00

Starmer greeted by Macron in Paris ahead of Paralympics opening ceremony

Following his engagements in Berlin, Sir Keir Starmer was heading to Paris for the start of the Paralympics and talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, where he will continue to pursue his reset agenda.

The prime minister was greeted by Mr Macron at the Elysee Palace ahead of the opening ceremony on Wednesday.

Andy Gregory28 August 2024 21:57

Starmer accused of lacking ambition as he launches Brexit reset in Germany

Sir Keir Starmer has been criticised for lacking ambition in his bid to reset relations with the EU, after he rejected the idea of free movement for under-30s and rejoining the students’ Erasmus scheme even before talks got underway.

The prime minister made it clear he was not open to a deal that would make it easier for young people from the UK and the European Union to travel, when he held a joint press conference with German chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday.

Despite Sir Keir having described the renegotiation as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity”, there are concerns that he is not willing to be flexible on a proposal that is strongly supported in the EU.

Our political editor David Maddox reports:

Andy Gregory28 August 2024 21:55

Pictured: Chancellor Rachel Reeves visits National Manufacturing Institute in Scotland

Salma Ouaguira28 August 2024 21:30

Energy bosses urge Labour to ease burden on ‘struggling industry’

Energy UK’s chief executive Emma Pinchbeck said suppliers were already doing a lot to help households struggling with bills.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “It’s important for people to understand that the retail sector doesn’t make huge profits, and most of the time I’ve been doing this job, they’ve been losing money.

“That’s because they’re exposed to the high gas prices that everyone else is, and they buy gas to sell to customers. Under the price cap they’re also limited in the profit they can make.”

She added that along with compulsory measure to support households “we also have our own voluntary commitments as a sector, and in the last year that provided £54 million of discretionary support, on top of the more than £2 billion worth of mandatory schemes”.

She called for green policy costs to be shifted from bills to general taxation to help ease the burden

“We’ve got record levels of debt amongst our consumers. It is, if anything, worse than any other time in the crisis,” she said.

“And so we’ve been advocating quick things to do, and we think a smart thing to do would be to move a portion of the policy costs off electricity bills into general taxation to rebalance some of the costs between electricity and gas, and to, lastly, double the warm homes discount.”

Salma Ouaguira28 August 2024 21:00

Keir Starmer attempts to recreate David Cameron’s 2010 deal

The prime minister is looking to recreate David Cameron’s 2010 deal with France during his European tour in Germany and France.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy at the time signed the The Lancaster House treaties in a bid to strengthen defense security with the UK.

Keir Starmer now wants to forge new agreements on defence and security with Berlin and France – with immigration and trade also on top of the agenda.

Sir Keir has faced pressure from the opposition over his move to reset relations with Europe.

But the PM previosuly reiterated he wil not reverse Brexit measures.

Salma Ouaguira28 August 2024 20:30

Scottish Government as bad as Tories on finances, says Chancellor

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the Scottish government is “as guilty” as the previous Tory government on the country’s finances.

The chancellor was speaking during a visit to the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland near Renfrew, Renfrewshire, on Wednesday.

Experts at the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) said on Tuesday that Scottish ministers may struggle to balance the country’s budget due to above-expectation public sector pay deals, the council tax freeze and benefit reforms, as well as uncertainty about the level of funding coming from Westminster.

While the Scottish government has attacked decisions made at Westminster for the country’s financial strife, the chancellor used her visit north of the border to hit back.

“The SNP government is as guilty as the Conservative government of spending more than they were bringing in, and now the Scottish Government are having to make difficult decisions,” she said.

“Anas Sarwar and the Labour opposition in Scotland were warning the SNP about the unsustainable position they were in.

“They SNP refused to listen, they made decisions that were not sustainable and now it is Scottish people who are paying the price for the decisions of the Scottish Government.”

Responding to the chancellor’s comments, First Minister John Swinney told the PA news agency during a visit to Stirling: “The Scottish government has balanced its budget for every single year – we have lived within the resources available to us.

“The problem we’ve got is that the UK government has not faced up to the reality of the pressures and the issues that have faced our public finances.”

Salma Ouaguira28 August 2024 20:00

Editorial: Painful times lie ahead for Britain – and for Keir Starmer

Editorial: Gritty, glum, realistic – the prime minister’s keynote speech in the rose garden of No 10 held few surprises (and very little joy)

Salma Ouaguira28 August 2024 19:50

Robert Jenrick slams £22 black hole claim was Labour’s ‘own making’

The former immigration minister and Tory leadership hopeful has accused the Labour party of making up claims about a £22 black hole left by the Tories.

Mr Jenrick told Sky News: “The black hole was one of Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves’ own making. They’ve made political choices and I think they are selfish choices.

“They’ve chosen to spend £10bn a year paying off their union paymasters with excessive public sector pay for train drivers and others, and they’re choosing to spend £8bn on an energy company, a fantasy of Ed Miliband’s, that doesn’t even produce any energy.

“The political choices that they’ve made in just 53 days are bad choices. They’re doing this on the backs of middle class people, because they’re about to break their promises and hike taxes this autumn, and on the backs of our pensioners, for whom they’re removing their winter fuel allowances.”

Salma Ouaguira28 August 2024 19:30