Luciana Berger MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Public Health, commenting on the Tory split over plain packaging said:

“The shambles of tobacco packaging reveals how weak David Cameron is, with reports that 100 of his MPs are prepared to rebel against him on this vital measure.

“Almost a year ago, Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of standardised packaging with just 24 MPs voting against it yet David Cameron has still not been able to deliver, unable to command the support of his own party.

“Standardised packaging of tobacco is backed by the conclusions of the Government’s own reviews, and has the support of public health experts, public and Parliament alike. Yet the Government has taken almost a year to make this next step and in that time 200,000 children would have taken up smoking.

“David Cameron must get a grip and introduce this vital measure as soon as possible.”