New Minister Responsible for Vaping
A new minister, Ashley Dalton MP, has been appointed to take responsibility for vaping following the sacking of Andrew Gwynne MP for his offensive WhatsApp group comments
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by Dave Cross
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A new minister, Ashley Dalton MP, has been appointed to take responsibility for vaping following the sacking of Andrew Gwynne MP for his offensive WhatsApp group comments. As the tenth person in this post in ten years, hopes are that she will offer a period of continuity in office – but her non-scientific background presents challenges for tobacco harm reduction advocates.
The Government issued a press release stating:
“The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:
- Ashley Dalton MP as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care.
Andrew Gwynne MP has left the government.”
The appointment was welcomed by the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA), saying: “Congratulations to Ashley Dalton MP on her appointment as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care. We look forward to working with her and her officials on vaping policy and regulation.”
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) also offered its salutations: “Congratulations to Ashley Dalton MP on her appointment as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care.
“We look forward to working with her on vaping policy as we continue working towards our shared goal of eradicating the harms of smoking.
“As part of this, we are writing to the new Health Minister to invite her to a meeting to discuss how vaping can best support a smokefree future. It is essential that policy strikes the right balance between preventing youth access and illegal vape sales, while ensuring that the millions of adults who rely on vaping as their best chance to quit smoking can continue to do so.”
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) commented: “Congratulations to Ashley Dalton MP on her appointment as Public Health Minister. We look forward to working together to deliver the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and create the first Smokefree Generation.”
Ashley Dalton’s background is not in science or medicine, but she has been working as a parliamentary private secretary to Health Secretary Wes Streeting since being elected in 2023.
Graduating with a BA in English and politics and a DipHE in professional development, Dalton worked for Southend-on-Sea Council for 17 years and then a charity in Lancashire.
In fact, the nearest thing to an involvement with science and medicine was her failed attempt to sue Southend General Hospital.
All of Ashley Dalton’s health related questions in Parliament:
- A question about prescriptions for Type 2 Diabetes
- A question about supplies to fill prescriptions for Type 2 Diabetes
- A question about increasing the supply of Type 2 Diabetes drugs
- A question about the number of elective surgeries cancelled in the last 12 months
- A question asking how the weather impacts NHS services
Andrew Gwynne’s capitulation to lobby groups corrupted the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, transforming it into an anti-vaping bill. Ashley Dalton’s background gives little hope that the Government’s course on this subject is going to alter, but we live in hope.
Photo Credit:
Images from official portrait and Ashley Dalton’s Twitter/x account https://x.com/AshleyDalton_MP/status/1469988495674466304/photo/1
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
