HEALTH experts have told the new Labour government that it must revive anti-smoking legislation abandoned by ex-PM Rishi Sunak before calling last week’s general election.

More than 1,000 experts across the health sector have urged the government to include the law “front and centre” when it announces its legislative programme in the King’s speech, saying they were “dismayed” when the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was shelved by Mr Sunak.

They said the legislation must be a priority if Labour is to achieve its manifesto promise to halve differences in healthy life expectancy between Britain’s richest and poorest regions.