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  "path": "/politics/keir-starmer-brexit-reset-eu-britain-smoke-free-generation",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-24T03:24:11.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Switzerland to hold vote on 10 million population cap amid record immigration surge",
    "Rachel Reeves sparks major Brexit betrayal row after declaring 'Britain's future lies with Europe'",
    "Keir Starmer poised for UK to rejoin £100million EU defence pact despite collapsed talks",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nBritain’s landmark plan to ban tobacco sales to anyone born after 2009 could spark a legal clash with Brussels, after seven EU member states formally raised objections.\n\nCroatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Slovakia have submitted detailed opinions warning the proposed law may breach the Windsor Framework.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe legislation, which aims to create a “smoke-free generation” by raising the legal purchasing age for tobacco each year, reaches report stage in the House of Lords on Tuesday.\n\nPortuguese officials said the proposal is “in clear breach of the principles of the treaties, as well as the Windsor framework\".\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nAuthorities in Prague argued the measures would create “an unjustified barrier to the free movement of goods\".\n\nThe Windsor Framework was agreed under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 2023 and later revised by Sir Keir Starmer.\n\nThe agreement keeps Northern Ireland aligned with significant elements of the EU single market to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.\n\nThat creates legal complications for UK-wide laws that could affect trade flows between Britain and the EU.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe generational smoking ban was first proposed by Mr Sunak before being adopted by Labour after entering office.\n\nMinisters notified Brussels of the bill last August, as required under the framework.\n\nThe Government insists the policy is “fully compatible with our international treaty obligations in Northern Ireland\".\n\n### BRUSSELS - READ THE LATEST:\n\n\n\n\n  * Switzerland to hold vote on 10 million population cap amid record immigration surge\n  * Rachel Reeves sparks major Brexit betrayal row after declaring 'Britain's future lies with Europe'\n  * Keir Starmer poised for UK to rejoin £100million EU defence pact despite collapsed talks\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOne source told The Times it presents the “first big test” of the agreement, warning that the objections could signal further trouble ahead.\n\nAnother said the ban is \"open to a legal challenge from the EU side\".\n\nThe source added: \"We know that the Irish government considered this step [a generational ban] themselves, but didn’t proceed because it was concluded that it would be contrary to EU law as it presently stands.\n\n\"So there is clearly a tension between the UK government’s position and seven other seven other member states.”\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIf Brussels ultimately determines the law breaches single market rules, negotiations would follow - with potential legal action as a last resort.\n\nThe Government is holding fortnightly talks with Brussels as they seek to finalise Sir Keir’s post-Brexit “reset” with the bloc.\n\nA Department for Health spokesman said: “The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will apply in Northern Ireland, ensuring that people in Northern Ireland will benefit from the action the government is taking to tackle the leading cause of preventable death in the UK.\n\n“We have provided a comprehensive response to the European Commission on the detailed opinions received, setting out the reasons why our smoke-free generation policy is fully compatible with our international treaty obligations in Northern Ireland.”\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**\n",
  "title": "Keir Starmer' Brexit reset with EU could stub out Britain's plans to create 'smoke-free generation'"
}