Tory rebellion against Sunak smoking ban rekindles leadership talk

Prospective contenders Badenoch, Mordaunt, Braverman and Jenrick abstained or voted against the ban

In his speech to the Tory faithful at the Conservative party conference in Manchester, Rishi Sunak declared that he wanted to ban smoking for future generations.

His announcement – confirming a plan first reported by the Guardian – was met with applause from grassroots members then. But Tuesday night’s vote demonstrates the challenges for a Tory prime minister championing what his own side deems an archetypal “nanny state” policy.