Veterinary surgeon Dr Neil Hudson MP has been promoted to be a Shadow DEFRA Minister (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) , and this week gave his first frontbench speech to welcome in a Statutory Instrument that will prohibit the supply of disposable single-use vapes in the interests of the human health, animal health and the environment.
Dr Hudson's first Shadow Ministerial speech was fittingly the culmination of his long-fought campaign to get single-use vapes off our streets to protect children, animals and our precious environment.
Dr Hudson secured and led a key parliamentary debate on keeping children safe from the dangers of vaping in May 2023; consistently raised the issue in the Commons throughout last year; penned articles on the significance of banning disposable vapes; tabled parliamentary questions and met with a range of stakeholders from teachers and medical professionals to smoking charities and the Advertising Standards Authority.
Dr Hudson's recent comments came during a debate on the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024, a Statutory Instrument which will ban vapes that cannot be both recharged and refilled. This is designed to stop the litter in our streets and countryside, stop the products appealing to children and safeguard global lithium supplies.
Speaking afterwards, Epping Forest MP Dr Neil Hudson, said:
"Having worked so hard for so long to improve the areas of policy I am so passionate about, it is an honour to have been appointed to this Shadow DEFRA Ministerial role by the Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch.”
"Moreover it was so fitting that my first speech was to usher in our Conservative ban on single-use vapes that I have tirelessly campaigned for since first elected to Parliament. These seemingly innocent devices are so damaging to the health and wellbeing of our young folk, to our precious environment and even to curious animals - so good riddance!"
