PLANS to create a "smoke-free generation" have taken another step.

MPs voted to approve the bill in its second reading in Parliament yesterday (Tuesday) by 415 to 47.

The Bill, which was first introduced by the previous Conservative government earlier this year, would see anyone born after January 1, 2009 legally prevented from smoking.

The legislation has not been without its critics, with Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell arguing that people should be able to make their own choices, and the Liberal Democrats claiming it “raises issues of civil liberties”.

The vote saw a split among the Conservative Party's MPs, with 23 voting in favour of the bill, 35 voting against and 59 not voting.

A smaller split was also seen in the Liberal Democrats as 38 voted aye, seven voted no and 27 did not vote.

How Worcestershire's MPs voted

  • Thomas Bradley, Bromsgrove: No
  • Nigel Huddleston, Droitwich and Evesham: No vote recorded
  • Chris Bloore, Redditch: Yes
  • Dame Harriet Baldwin, West Worcestershire: No vote recorded
  • Tom Collins, Worcester: No vote recorded
  • Mark Garnier, Wyre Forest: No vote recorded

Wes Streeting, health secretary, told the Commons that the Government “will consult on banning smoking outside schools, hospitals and in playgrounds, protecting children and vulnerable people from the harms of second-hand smoke”, as part of the Bill, the consultation will not be extended to pubs and other outdoor hospitality spaces.

The bill would also see a blanket ban of vape advertising and sponsorship, similar to the removal of all smoking adverts from display in 2015.

Why did four MPs not vote on this bill?

Just because an MP has not voted for or against a bill, does not mean they were not interested in doing so.

An MP may not have voted due to being unwell or not in Westminster at the time of the vote.

When this happens, the MP will normally be paired with another representative who intends to vote the other way, so their votes cancel each other out.

59 Conservative MPs, 82 Labour MPs and 27 Liberal Democrats were among those who did not vote on the bill.