Of rabbits from the hat during party conference, he was under a lot of criticism because of the hs2 farce, so he has picked on one of the biggest groups in society, which are smokers. We have to remember that to put this in perspective, Smoking Rates have been falling for 50 years and they continue to fall, and the current Smoking Rates in all age groups are the lowest ever recorded level. So there is absolutely no need for this type of draconian policy. This is only going to fuel the black market because it will not stop young people smoking, they will simply get their tobacco from the black market, and of course once they are older they will get it from abroad. But there is more important issue, thats the whole in fertilisation of british society. Once you are 18 you are an adult and its up to you to choose whether you wish to drink alcohol, whether you wish to drink alcohol, whether you wish to drink alcohol, whether you wish to Smoke Tobacco and of course, fewer and fewer people are smoking tobacco, they are switching to other nicotine products. What the government has to do is educate people about the health risks of smoking which has been doing for decades and encourage people to reduced Risk Products which many people are already doing. Lets reduced Risk Products which many people are already doing. Lets have a listen to the people are already doing. Lets have a listen to the prime people are already doing. Lets have a listen to the Prime Minister people are already doing. Lets have a listen to the Prime Minister is a listen to the Prime Minister is speaking on the radio this morning addressing some of those criticisms. The conservative measures to restrict the conservative measures to restrict choice are never easy. But ithink restrict choice are never easy. But i think smoking is fundamentally different i think smoking is fundamentally different for a couple of reasons. Firstly, different for a couple of reasons. Firstly, unlike lots of other products, that may not be good for you, products, that may not be good for you. There products, that may not be good for you, there is no safe level with smoking you, there is no safe level with smoking. Its also obviously highly addictive smoking. Its also obviously highly addictive and is responsible for one in four addictive and is responsible for one in four Cancer Deaths in our country. In four Cancer Deaths in our country, killing 64,000 people a year. Country, killing 64,000 people a year. It country, killing 64,000 people a year. It is country, killing 64,000 people a year, it is the single single biggest year, it is the single single biggest preventable cause of death, disability biggest preventable cause of death, disability and illness that we see Adipex Disability and illness that we see adipex monumental pressure on the nhs. Adipex monumental pressure on the nhs one adipex monumental pressure on the nhs. One hospitaladmission every single nhs. One hospitaladmission every single minute, £17 billion of cost to our single minute, £17 billion of cost to our nhs and our country. That is the Prime Ministers to our nhs and our country. That is the Prime Ministers position. The Prime Ministers position. Doctor hopkinson, can you explain to us what smoking does to someones lungs . Us what smoking does to someones lunas . ,. , ~ us what smoking does to someones lunas . ,. , ~ , us what smoking does to someones lunas . , ,. Lungs . Smoking is ust incredibly lethal. Uniquely lungs . Smoking isjust incredibly lethal. Uniquely lethal. Lungs . Smoking isjust incredibly lethal. Uniquely lethal. And lungs . Smoking isjust incredibly lethal. Uniquely lethal. And it. Lungs . Smoking isjust incredibly lethal. Uniquely lethal. And it is| lethal. Uniquely lethal. And it is addictive lethal. Uniquely lethal. And it is addictive. My point this morning is, people addictive. My point this morning is, peddle was addictive. My point this morning is, people was smoking related lung disease people was smoking related lung disease and invariably when i asked, they say disease and invariably when i asked, they say they started smoking when they say they started smoking when they were they say they started smoking when they were children. Steps that the government has announced, both raising government has announced, both raising the government has announced, both raising the age of sail and also increasing funding for a Smoking Cessation increasing funding for a Smoking Cessation services and enforcement, and mass Cessation Services and enforcement, and mass media campaigns are already really positive and should make a huge really positive and should make a huge impact on human health and well being. Huge impact on human health and wellbeing huge impact on human health and wellbeina. ,. ,. ,. , wellbeing. Simon, what do you say to those arguments . Wellbeing. Simon, what do you say to those arguments . That wellbeing. Simon, what do you say to those arguments . That this wellbeing. Simon, what do you say to those arguments . That this is to those arguments . That this is about the health of our young people and when you look at cancer rates, one in four Cancer Deaths is from smoking and also the evidence from new zealand that does suggest that when you take measures like this, does indeed stop young from starting to smoke. ,. ,. , to smoke. There is no evidence from new zealand to smoke. There is no evidence from new zealand that to smoke. There is no evidence from new zealand that at to smoke. There is no evidence from new zealand that at all, to smoke. There is no evidence from new zealand that at all, they to smoke. There is no evidence from new zealand that at all, they have. New zealand that at all, they have passed the law but it hasnt been enforced yet. I think we should wait a few years. It enforced yet. I think we should wait a few years a few years. It has been in force, it was enforced a few years. It has been in force, it was enforced last a few years. It has been in force, it was enforced last year. A few years. It has been in force, it was enforced last year. But a few years. It has been in force, it was enforced last year. But we i it was enforced last year. But we need to wait it was enforced last year. But we need to wait a it was enforced last year. But we need to wait a few it was enforced last year. But we need to wait a few years it was enforced last year. But we need to wait a few years until. It was enforced last year. But we i need to wait a few years until we actually get proper evidence as to what the effect is. There will be. New zealand is so far away, it doesnt have the same trouble with Illicit Trade that we would have in this country. Its not about children smoking, we already have laws to stop under 18s being allowed to buy tobacco, this is about young adults, people who in ten years time will be in their mid 20s. Then they will be in the mid 30s. We will have a farcical situation of a 33 year old being unable to buy tobacco and a 34 year old being allowed to buy tobacco. Thats complete nonsense. When that happens the anti smoking lobby will say, look, this policy doesnt actually work so lets ban the sale of all cigarettes are all age groups, because this is where this is going, its going towards complete prohibition, taking away something that many people do enjoy, they know the health risks and there are very Serious Health risks, totally appreciate that. But people are well educated about those health risks and they choose to make the so called wrong decisions, that is their choice, their body, it has nothing to do with government beyond education. ,. ,~ ,. , nothing to do with government beyond education. ,. , � ,. , education. Doctor hopkinson, its a forceful argument education. Doctor hopkinson, its a forceful argument being education. Doctor hopkinson, its a forceful argument being made education. Doctor hopkinson, its a forceful argument being made by L Forceful Argument being made by simon. One im sure youve heard before. Can you lay out your reason is that you support clearly rishi sunak� s plans . Is that you support clearly rishi sunaks plans . Is that you support clearly rishi sunaks plans . Well, theres a lot to unick sunaks plans . Well, theres a lot to unpick there. Sunaks plans . Well, theres a lot to unpick there. In sunaks plans . Well, theres a lot to unpick there. In terms sunaks plans . Well, theres a lot to unpick there. In terms of to unpick there. In terms of evidence, to unpick there. In terms of evidence, raised the age of sail cigarettes from 16 to 18 in 2007 and i cigarettes from 16 to 18 in 2007 and i was cigarettes from 16 to 18 in 2007 and i was in cigarettes from 16 to 18 in 2007 and i was in honest immediate 30 fall in smoking i was in honest immediate 30 fall in smoking among seven 16 and i7yearotd in smoking among seven 16 and 17 year old so we know it works in the us, 17 year old so we know it works in the us, they 17 year old so we know it works in the us, they introduced an increased ae the us, they introduced an increased age of the us, they introduced an increased age of sail the us, they introduced an increased age of sail and it was effective. So im age of sail and it was effective. So im sure age of sail and it was effective. So im sure the age of sail and it was effective. So im sure the Tobacco Industry would like to im sure the Tobacco Industry would like to wait im sure the Tobacco Industry would like to wait for a few years to see what like to wait for a few years to see what happens because delay is one of the big what happens because delay is one of the big tactics. But i guess most compelling argument is from Philip Morris compelling argument is from Philip Morris itself. Internal documents describe morris itself. Internal documents describe the effect of raising the ae describe the effect of raising the age of describe the effect of raising the age of sale, that it would cut our key young age of sale, that it would cut our key Young Adult Market of 17 to 20 roles key Young Adult Market of17 to 20 roles they key Young Adult Market of 17 to 20 roles. They need to get young people hooked roles. They need to get young people hooked on roles. They need to get young people hooked on smoking. Once people are out of hooked on smoking. Once people are out of childhood and early adult life they out of childhood and early adult life they are unlikely to start smoking, so this is really important intervention. And its a way of improving intervention. And its a way of improving Human Freedom and well being. The freedom to live a life of well being. The freedom to live a Life Of Agony at adequate length that Isht Life Of Agony at adequate length that isnt limited and blighted by breathlessness or lung disease, heart breathlessness or lung disease, heart disease, and this is absolutely what we should be doing to protect absolutely what we should be doing to protect people against taking up this uniquely lethal habit doctor mac this uniquely lethal habit doctor mac. ~ this uniquely lethal habit doctor mac. , ~ , this uniquely lethal habit doctor mac. ,. This uniquely lethal habit doctor mac. , ~ ,. , mac thank you very much for oininu mac thank you very much for joining us mac thank you very much for joining us we mac thank you very much for joining us. We have mac thank you very much for joining us. We have been mac thank you very much for. Joining us. We have been reporting on the european Leaders Summit in spain. One of the key topics is Nagorno Karabakh. This deadly conflict we have seen in the caucasus. Hopes of progress have been hampered already by Azerbaijan Cosmic president who has boycotted the event, complain of a armenian bias. Its a little over two weeks since azerbaijan wants are likely Military Operation that ended the armenia separatist presence in the region. The most entirely armenian petition of 120,000 has spread across the border to armenia as the military quickly overwhelmed separate forces. Paul adams has spent the last few days in Nagorno Karabakh, on a presto we have to be clear, organised by the azeri authorities. The stillness after the storm, in a region torn apart by decades of conflict, has peace finally come, and at what cost . Two weeks after azerbaijans lightning operation, were taken to bunkers and trenches abandoned by armenian rebels. The visit is heavily controlled. Were only seeing what the azeri authorities want us to see. The armenians left in a hurry. There are signs of haste here, but not fighting. The logbook records activity until ten days before azerbaijan struck. So for three years, this was the front line with the armenian rebels holding this ridgeline overlooking their city of ste pa na kert. Down there in the valley, and the azeri military in control in shusha, just up there on the hill. But in a matter of 24 hours, all of that changed, these frontlines simply vanished and now everything is silent. We move on down the road used by armenian civilians as they fled in panic. Glimpses here of a Terrifying Exodus Driven Out by months of blockade and sudden fear. As their would be state collapsed around them, the armenians didnt wait for their enemies to arrive. This, azerbaijan says, was their choice. Indeed, we do regret that the Civilian Population has decided, many of them, to leave. And of course, in this case, and we respect Freedom Of Choice and Freedom Of Movement and also majority of the population on the grounds, they also have an ethnic hatred against azerbaijanis. They say they cannot live under the flag of azerbaijan. Is this the kind of end of this whole 30 year story, in your view . We do hope that really, finally we are coming to the final conclusion of this 200 year old conflict between armenia and azerbaijan. Azerbaijan wants peace. Russias peacekeepers are still here. But for how long . With azerbaijan finally controlling all its territory, theres nothing for them to do, but plenty for the new authorities in areas taken back earlier, the state is investing heavily. Power, roads, whole communities. This family has come back to a home seized by armenia 31 years ago and now rebuilt. Todays Freakish Storm threatens to flood the house, but the family seems thrilled to be here. Translation for 27 years, every day i would wake up and say, were going back. Coming back was like a dream. Thanks to our soldiers and our president , we are now here. Azerbaijan feels that history is on its side. Theres a real sense of pride here, but acute sensitivity, too this was as close as we were allowed to get to the abandoned armenian city at the centre of this whole story, stepanakert, which azerbaijan calls hahn kendi. Accused of causing a humanitarian disaster, our hosts werent ready to show us its deserted streets. Paul adams, bbc news, Nagorno Karabakh. We have had the azeri president pulling out of talks with the armenian Prime Minister, that was due to happen in spain. But where does it leave people who live in the region . Live now to our news correspondent, olga ivshina. People how to have left their homes across the border, do they believe they will ever be able to go back to Nagorno Karabakh . They will ever be able to go back to nagornokarabakh . They will ever be able to go back to nagornokarabakh . Well, they were sa in it is nagornokarabakh . Well, they were saying it is their nagornokarabakh . Well, they were saying it is their dream nagornokarabakh . Well, they were saying it is their dream to nagornokarabakh . Well, they were saying it is their dream to come saying it is their dream to come back, but the older generation, nationally the people of my age, they all say they think that in a lifetime they will not be able to return, but they hope that maybe the kids will be able. But i was hearing the very same stories on the other side. An azeri family who fled, they are still hoping to return and i think thats the best thing to show, that people on both sides are touched by war, still bearing scars, still hope to return and the cart at the moment, its a deserted land, heavily damaged by conflict and from people on both sides it is almost impossible to live there due to political reasons and also due to the scars of war, the territory is heavily mined and the moment it a deserted territory which will take years and years and years and years to bring back to life. In years and years and years and years to bring back to life. To bring back to life. In terms of these talks. To bring back to life. In terms of these talks, huge to bring back to life. In terms of i these talks, huge disappointment expressed by european leaders that we are not seeing the azeris and their minions come together in spain, but what had been the hub that will come out at these talks with mac and the armenians. I think all eyes are turned to baku because the azerbaijanis have in the upper and both politically and militarily, and they have captured several political and military leaders of karabakh, armenians, and it seems that now there will be trying to extend those negotiations with armenia, trying to get better conditions for themselves, to be honest armenia doesnt have that much to offer in return. And honest armenia doesnt have that much to offer in return.