Most Brits ‘will still be pushed to quit smoking in eight years’ despite hopes government’s plan will be stubbed out

MINISTERS yesterday claimed the aim of making Britain “smoke free” by 2030 still stands - despite hopes they will scrap plans for a nanny state cigarette crackdown.

Health Secretary Therese Coffey denied the ambition of getting the number of smokers down to 5 per cent of Brits by the end of the decade had “been shelved”.

However the Deputy PM - known to enjoy the occasional cigar - refused to give a ringing endorsement of the policy.

Asked if she supported the position, she said: “Well, that's the policy of the government, as it stands today.”

Insiders also told The Guardian there is “no chance” ministers would implement the controversial recommendations of the independent Khan review. 

They included raising the legal age of buying tobacco by a year every year until nobody smoked.

It also proposed a £125million campaign to urge people to quit and requiring tobacco sellers to have a licence. 

A source told The Sun ministers would instead look to start prescribing and promoting vaping.

Liz Truss has railed against interventionist policies and at her Conservative Party conference speech said: “I’m not going to tell you what to do, or what to think or how to live your life.”

The Department for Health said: “We are currently considering the wide range of recommendations set out in the Khan Review and how best to take these forward.

“We will set out our next steps for the plan in due course.”