MPs have voted to back Rishi Sunak's progressive smoking ban. Can it work?

The Tobacco & Vapes Bill includes new legislation to increase the smoking age by one year, every year, banning the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 1st January 2009. MPs have voted the bill through its second reading and it is now in the committee stage.

The tobacco firm Philip Morris International have pledged to move away from selling cigarettes, and instead focus on heated tobacco products. In this episode, Becky Slack is joined by Dr. Moira Gilchrist of Philip Morris International, to discuss the company's plans for a "smoke-free future" and whether Britain - and tobacco firms - really can kick cigarettes for good.

This episode was paid for by Philip Morris International. The New Statesman retains full editorial control.

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The world is currently facing multiple crises, from geopolitical conflicts to pandemics and climate change. But amidst this turbulence, international aid budgets are being stretched as domestic issues take precedence. The UK has cut its overseas aid budget significantly, from 0.7 to 0.5 per cent of gross national income. Meanwhile, low-income countries need more support than ever, as they deal with the fall out of wars, extreme poverty, natural disasters and humanitarian issues. The costs involved are huge, and while aid still has a role to play, we need to look beyond grants to unlock funding on a bigger scale to fix these problems.

In this sponsored podcast, host and freelance journalist Emma Haslett is joined by Sarah Champion, Labour MP for Rotherham and chair of the cross-party international development parliamentary committee; James Mwangi, founder of Climate Action Platform for Africa, an organisation working to unlock Africa's potential as a global hub for climate action; and Hannah Ryder, CEO at Development Reimagined, an Africa-led and women-led international development consultancy.

Focusing on the African continent, they explore the need to reform global financial institutions, and how the UK can develop new models of financial support that rely less on aid and more on partnership and collaboration with low-income countries.

This podcast is sponsored by One, a not-for-profit international development organisation which campaigns to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030.

Join the fight for a more equal future: visit one.org.

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The UK is one of the biggest plastic polluters in the world. According to Greenpeace we produce more plastic waste per person than almost any other country, with our supermarkets creating roughly 800,000 tonnes every year.

We need to find ways to minimise waste through keeping products and packaging in circulation for as long as possible. This is where the circular economy comes in - a more sustainable model of production that reduces, reuses, repairs and recycles. With a general election coming up, creating a circular economy will be a crucial component of the next government’s net zero agenda, and businesses will need to play their part.

In this sponsored podcast, host and freelance journalist Emma Haslett is joined by Julian Hunt, vice president of public affairs, communication and sustainability of GB and Northern Europe at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners; Ruth Jones, Labour MP for Newport West and shadow minister for environmental protection and animal welfare; and Dr Costas Velis, a lecturer in resource efficiency systems in the School of Civil Engineering (SoCE), at the University of Leeds. They explore how the UK can move towards a circular economy, and the role businesses play in enabling that shift.

This podcast is sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

To learn more about Coca-Cola Europacific Partners' work in making its packaging more sustainable, you can check out its This is Forward packaging commitments or for further information about the company head here.

Listen to the podcast in full here or on the Spotlight on Policy podcast channel.

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Britain is trapped in “short term thinking”, says the world’s oldest scientific academy. So how should the UK invest in science and technology? 

The United Kingdom has a formidable scientific legacy dating back centuries. This has allowed rapid response to global problems such as the Covid-19 pandemic, and provides value to the economy through technological advancements. However the Royal Society claims that “stop-start investment” in science and technology is hampering Britain’s future prosperity, security and resilience. 

In this episode of Spotlight on Policy, host Becky Slack is joined by Sir Adrian Smith, president of the Royal Society, Chi Onwurah MP and George Dibb of the Institute for Public Policy Research, to discuss the UK’s scientific investment policies. They explore some of the policy solutions proposed in the Royal Society’s 2040 Vision for Science report, and how a Labour government would respond to the challenges of ongoing long-term investment and science and technology. 

This episode is sponsored by the Royal Society.  

Read the Royal Society’s 2040 Vision for Science report here: https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/science2040/ 

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New technology means cancer diagnosis is better than ever.

Advances in genomic testing and other new technologies mean we are spotting cancer earlier, and getting better at identifying the best treatment for patients.

But a greater understanding of the disease – or group of diseases – means a requirement for more tailored treatment plans to improve patient outcomes. This involves challenges for the health service when it comes to capacity, cost, personnel, infrastructure, and expertise. Is the NHS ready?

In this special podcast, sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo, Becky Slack meets Karin Smyth, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, Professor Clare Turnbull of the Institute for Cancer Research, and Dr. Marc Moodley, Medical Director of Oncology for Daiichi Sankyo. They explore what the new developments in cancer diagnostics and treatment mean for patients and the NHS, and discuss Labour’s plans for the health service.

This New Stateman podcast has been funded by and developed in partnership with Daiichi-Sankyo, a pharmaceutical company specialising in oncology and speciality medicines. For more information visit www.daiichi-sankyo.co.uk

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Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, nearly a million people aged 50-64 have left the workforce.

Other major economies have seen their employment rates bounce back after the pandemic, and the Financial Times have reported that the UK is the only developed economy

where inactivity kept rising after the initial pandemic shock.  

In this episode, sponsored by Phoenix Insights, Becky Slack from the New Statesman Spotlight team is joined by Alison McGovern, shadow minister for employment, Neil Carberry of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, and Claire Hawkins, director of corporate affairs and investor relations at the Phoenix Group. They discuss why so many older people are leaving the workforce, what government and employers can do to support older workers better, and the economic impact of doing so.

Find out more about Phoenix Insights

https://www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insights/

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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide – but it doesn't affect everyone equally. 

Data shows wide regional variation of lung cancer diagnoses, as well as huge differentials linked to socio-economic factors and class. 

In this episode Becky Slack is joined by a panel including a leading clinical expert, Professor David Baldwin, Lorraine Dallas from the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, as well as David Long from the leading pharmaceuticals company and our sponsor for this episode, MSD. 

They discuss the root of lung cancer inequalities and how they can be mitigated.

This episode has been fully funded by MSD, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies active in several key areas of global health, including immunisation and oncology. Learn more about the work they do following the science to tackle some of the world's greatest health threats at www.msd.com

Listen to all our Spotlight on Policy episodes here: https://podfollow.com/spotlight-on-policy-from-the-new-statesman

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20 million people in the UK lack the basic digital skills required to download apps, apply for jobs online, or use the internet with confidence. This results in a £5.5bn loss of earnings to UK employees, and is a serious problem for UK productivity and individual quality of life.

In this special episode, Jon Bernstein from the New Statesman’s Spotlight on Policy team meets Martin McFadyen from Virgin Media O2 Business and three charity and environmental partners - Emma Stone (Good Things Foundation), Emma Weston (Digital Unite) and Holly Smith (Hubbub) – to find out how they are helping local communities by providing opportunities for people to get connected and develop their digital skills.

This episode is sponsored by Virgin Media O2 Business. Not sure where to start with ESG? Visit: https://www.virginmediao2business.co.uk/sustainability/

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With energy prices at record levels over the past year, schools, universities, leisure centres and businesses have been hit by sky-high bills. And as these higher costs are passed on to customers, the difficulties of the cost-of-living crisis have only been compounded further.

But the UK's net zero targets, and the need to transition to a greener economy, hold the key not only to cutting carbon emissions, but also to saving costs.

In this special podcast episode, sponsored by Honeywell, a panel of expert guests discusses what organisations can do to save costs for themselves and for their customers, and to cut energy use, as they transition to net zero. What challenges do organisations face in making energy savings? What practical steps can they take? What hidden solutions could cut costs and ensure sustainability? And what support can policymakers provide?

For this discussion NS host Jon Bernstein is joined by Gillian Brown, vice-chair of the Energy Managers Association, Chartered Energy Manager and Energy Consultant Jon Cranefield, and Neil Brown, Global Product Manager at Honeywell.

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