New analysis from Cancer Research UK shows that the most deprived 10 per cent of the population in England won’t be smokefree until after 2050. This is 20 years behind the Government’s 2030 target for England and at least 26 years after the wealthiest sections of society, projected to reach smokefree status in 2024.

The charity called on the UK Government to make smokefree (defined as 5 per cent or less of the adult population smoking) a priority for all and “not leave the most deprived behind”. There are nearly twice as many cancer cases caused by smoking in the poorest areas compared to the wealthiest in England. 

Earlier this month, Cancer Research UK handed in a petition to the Prime Minister, which was signed by around 13,600 signatories. They called for better funded stop smoking services and public health campaigns to help people in the UK quit smoking and prevent more cases of cancer.

The charity says that since the last UK general election in December 2019 tobacco has caused over 200,000 cases of cancer in the UK.