UK Labour’s attack on cigars is another assault on the pursuits of a gent

[JohnS]

UK Labour’s attack on cigars is another assault on the pursuits of a gent

The Government has a deep-seated loathing of the traditional Englishman. Tweed and whisky will be next

William Sitwell - Sat, February 28, 2026 

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes measures to curb the appeal of cigars 

It is Lord Johnson of Lainston’s most vital contribution to public life. The Tory peer was elevated to the Lords in 2022 as a trade envoy by the then prime minister Liz Truss (a double blow of contaminated brands), but he has since toiled in the shadows on behalf of the UK and won ardent fans from all political sides. This week, however, he finally broke into the open, grabbing hold of a properly pertinent subject and giving a fabulous speech in the Upper House. His topic was cigars – his contribution coming as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was considered by peers – and he honed in on two key issues: packaging and the threat to the “sampling” rooms of cigar shops. As an aim to reduce the appeal of cigars, packaging similar to that used for cigarettes could be enforced; in other words, gone would be the romance of a fine box, replaced instead by some miserable cardboard emblazoned with photos of diseased lungs.

Lord Johnson’s eloquent plea was that there should be a “sensible policy to allow a niche industry of speciality tobacconists, with important trading partners, to exist and continue its trade.” Plain packaging, he explained, “would be devastating for this important area of our economy and would have no benefit to the overall plan of making Britain smoke-free.”

It is, he added, “totally impractical to bring in some type of plain packaging, given the way that these authentic handmade products are sourced and distributed.”

Most cigar producers are small family firms that do not have the capacity to change packaging, and cigars need to be transported in cedar-lined boxes. Such a policy would simply destroy businesses in poor countries such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Also, he added, cigars are not targeted at children and, while the changes would – as has happened in Canada and Australia – snuff out the British retailer, they would do nothing to cease what Lord Johnson called the “remorseless rise of vapes, snuses and other nicotine delivery products.”

Lord Johnson then mentioned the pleasure he has had from visiting such shops, the likes of Davidoff and Fox and Sautters – which, sadly, is one major reason why Labour is gunning for cigars: the club-like confines of cigar shops are the exclusive haunts of the posh boys. It whiffs, literally, of the accoutrements of the upper-class male establishment and, as Ed Miliband helpfully reminded us recently, Sir Keir Starmer’s central mission is to combat the UK’s “class divide”.

Labour has a deep-seated loathing of those who are different; we must all be nasal-throated voices of no discernible origin, with an interest in nothing but football and moderation. Which is why they are marching on the old-fashioned and traditional pursuits of the English gentleman.

There is the planned ban on trail hunting, a harmless pastime that should never have replaced actual hunting, and now Labour has shooting in its sights. Unable to find a legitimate way of stopping the downing of flying poultry, it will ban lead shot in 2029, which means no beautiful side-by-side weapon will function, and the cost of steel shot will make it prohibitive for all but the richest. Fine for the helicoptered city banker relishing his 500-bird day, a tragedy for the “nouveau pauvre” toff walking up a hedge with his spaniel.

Meanwhile, the male-only club is disparaged by the misery-lovers who hold the levers of power, surely rooting around as we speak for cunning ways to ban them. If they had their way, they would find a route to outlawing tweed, whisky, cheese savouries and claret.

I dip in and out of the pleasures of the gent, but now that this seeming minority is under attack, I have a mind to risk injury by jumping on a horse, riding to my all-male club and, after a proper lunch with claret, port and savouries consumed, marching on Parliament in my full tweeds, a throat-wrecking stogie firmly between my chops.

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/27/labour-attack-cigars-assault-pursuits-of-gent/

[ha_banos]

Is true. We're all so pompous here. 

 

[El Presidente]

Good to see the UK Cigar honchos rolling out the bigger guns. 

What's your feeling Banos? Will the UK cigar scene receive the carve out they need?

[ha_banos]

7 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Good to see the UK Cigar honchos rolling out the bigger guns. 

What's your feeling Banos? Will the UK cigar scene receive the carve out they need?

I don't think so Rob. I expect there'll be some ruling that 2027 they'll shut down retail 'sampling' indoors and plain packaging will be in full effect. I also expect the lounges will end up becoming private clubs to work around. And it'll be terraces and outdoor sampling only. TBF won't affect me. The occasional visit to Mitchells or Foxys will be all I'd miss. I'm usually in a local pub garden or a terrace venue. Where I can smoke my own I hasten to add.

In a land where a PSD4 starts at around 40+£ (U$54, AU$74) anything crazy can happen! 🤣