David Seymour courageously led the End of Life Choice effort, culminating in legislation that has ended immense and unnecessary human suffering. The only thing about him I have found to applaud.

But here’s another chance. I have another crusade – this time life-saving – for him to champion.

Instead of pushing the roll-back of NZ’s current anti-smoking policies, a senseless initiative supported by no responsible voices in the medical and public health communities, I urge MP Seymour to think bigger and take his lead from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Recently, with Sunak’s leadership, the British Parliament voted for his plan to make it illegal for anyone born in 2009 or later to buy tobacco products in the UK.

Imagine, entire smoking-free future generations. What a cost to society and burden on the health system to remove.

As reported by The Guardian, Victoria Atkins, the UK health secretary, told the Commons before the vote that there was “no liberty in addiction”. “Nicotine robs people of their freedom to choose,” she said. “The vast majority of smokers start when they are young, and three-quarters say that if they could turn back the clock they would not have started.”

The bill must go through the same process in the House of Lords. An extra burden Seymour wouldn’t have to carry, except for Lord Winston.