MP says she is 'ashamed' she began smoking aged 12

Newbury MP Laura Farris says she started smoking aged 12

An MP has said she is “ashamed" to admit she started smoking when she was 12.

Laura Farris, who represents Newbury, said in an LBC interview with Nick Ferrari that it is one of her "biggest regrets" and she would be voting with “great enthusiasm” in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The bill would ensure anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettes, and also aims to make vapes less appealing to children.

A number of Tory MPs have told the BBC they won't back the bill.

The minister for victims and safeguarding said that “smoking is responsible for one in four of all deaths, it is the number one preventable cause of death in this country and it costs the NHS £17bn a year".

During the radio interview, she said that she got into smoking from a young age because she had a friend with an older sibling and that it took her "years to quit".

She said: “I have two young kids now and the fact that they will never be able to walk into a shop and buy a packet of cigarettes is something I welcome.”

She added that she had “never met a single smoker who's glad they did it, wishes that their children do it, can identify a single health benefit or any other life benefit.

"It gets you hooked, it’s a horrible habit and even when you're doing it, you know you are causing yourself irreparable harm and it’s incredibly difficult to get off.”

'Barmy'

Opponents of the bill include former prime ministers Boris Johnson, who has called the plans "barmy", and Liz Truss.

Ms Truss told the BBC's political editor Chris Mason that plans to phase out smoking over time were "unconservative".

She said "we should absolutely protect children from damage and danger while they are developing decision-making capabilities", but added: "We're a free country."

While Ms Farris told LBC: “Actually I think this is a very sensible policy and I’m not particularly interested in arguments about freedom”.