Theresa May’s bid to introduce milkshake tax torpedoed by Matt Hancock as sun sets on her time as PM
MATT Hancock torpedoed Theresa May’s bid to introduce a milkshake tax in her dying days in office.
The outgoing PM overruled her furious Health Secretary to publish the proposals on the eve of the Tory leadership result.
But Boris Johnson has vowed to tear up sin taxes – warning they punish poor Brits and the evidence they cut obesity is flimsy.
And in a final humiliation for Mrs May, Mr Hancock parroted Bojo by saying the milkshake tax will only be pushed forward if the evidence proves it cuts kids’ obesity.
Labour’s health chief Jonathan Ashworth accused Mr Hancock – who is hoping for a promotion in Boris’ first Cabinet – of a screeching U-turn.
Speaking in the Commons, he furiously accused the Health Secretary of kicking the policy he previously championed “into the long grass.”
He raged: “Isn’t the truth that he has buckled under pressure from the sugar industry, he has not taken on the alcohol industry, he has not taken on the tobacco industry?
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“It is more about trying to get in with the new Prime Minster than putting the health needs of the nation first.”
Mr Hancock told the Commons: “I have asked the chief medical officer to come forward with review of evidence to make sure that the policy around how we tackle obesity is evidence driven.
“Follow the evidence - that’s what we do on this side of the House.”
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