HEALTH experts have told the new Labour government that it must revive anti-smoking legislation abandoned by ex-PM Rishi Sunak before calling last week’s general election.

More than 1,000 experts across the health sector have urged the government to include the law “front and centre” when it announces its legislative programme in the King’s speech, saying they were “dismayed” when the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was shelved by Mr Sunak.

They said the legislation must be a priority if Labour is to achieve its manifesto promise to halve differences in healthy life expectancy between Britain’s richest and poorest regions.

The legislation, which had cross-party support, would have made it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after January 1 2009, and cracked down on youth vaping with stricter regulations on flavours and packaging.

A letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been signed by leading health professionals, campaign groups and charities, including Action on Smoking and Health, Cancer Research UK and the Royal College of Physicians.

It says: “There is no time to waste. Measures to prevent vapes being marketed to children are urgently needed, while they remain accessible as an effective quitting aid for adult smokers.

“Britain was the birthplace of the tobacco industry, which killed over 100 million people in the 20th century and is on track to kill one billion in the 21st, mainly in low- and middle-income countries.

“The UK now has the chance to lead the world in phasing out smoking. The new government must seize it with both hands.”

The Department of Health and Social Care was invited to comment.