[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Health Secretary Therese Coffey today claimed the rule-change to outlaw smoking in cars with children was probably not 'the right thing to be doing'.

Dr Coffey made the controversial statement as it was revealed she plans to U-turn on the Government's pledge to unveil an action plan to tackle tobacco use.

The cigar-puffing Liz Truss ally said she voted against the law change in 2015 because she didn't believe in telling parents what to do.

She admitted that she did not know whether the law change actually was implemented at the time.

And she also claimed she is 'not aware' whether the Government will be scrappingthe the target to get the adult smoking rate down to 5 per cent, when asked about the latest U-turn.

Labour's Wes Streeting, her opposite number in the shadow cabinet, accused her of being 'clueless and hopeless'.

In another embarrassing gaffe for the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Coffey's 8am phone alarm went off during her media round of morning interviews again.

Laughing off the incident, she said: 'It's not Dr Dre this time.' Last month, her phone started blaring the 1999 hit 'Still D.R.E.' at the same time during an interview.

The Mail

What the actual ****? What kind of a health secretary are they? I mean I'm not one for nanny states and I'd be against telling adults whether they can smoke etc but a child has no choice in the matter, it isn't just "telling parents how to parent" it's an actual health issue, it's like saying it's the parents choice whether to put their childs seat belt on or not