Andy Burnham has been scolded for “demonising” all UK vape shops, amid his crackdown on Britain’s high streets.
Speaking to GB News, Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association John Dunne accused the Prime Minister of “tarring every store in the country” instead of “refocussing” how to rejuvenate the high street.
Mr Burnham is giving councils new powers to block unwanted businesses as part of a major crackdown aimed at reviving Britain’s struggling high streets.
Under the new rules, vape shops will need planning permission before they can trade, ending an anomaly that previously placed them in the same category as coffee shops and clothing retailers.
Mr Burnham argued that the rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have “replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for.”
Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Mr Dunne told GB News: “This Government is just going insane when it comes to legitimate vape retailers.
“Now, while I agree there are some issues out there, there’s many stores out there that shouldn’t be selling these products, and it’s one of the reasons why the industry has been calling out for licensing of our sector for well over six years.”
Mr Dunne stressed that vaping has become the “most successful way” for people to move away from smoking cigarettes.
He explained: “You cannot penalise responsible retailers that provide support to smokers looking to quit that have successfully allowed 5.5million people in this country to move away from smoking cigarettes to vaping.
“You must remember, it’s the most successful way that people quit smoking in this country, and to tar every single vape store in the country with this anti-social narrative is nonsense.
“Even Action on Smoking and Health today have come out and said this is a step too far.”
Mr Dunne also highlighted that some businesses are selling vape products that are not allowed to by law.
He told GB News: “I think there are some stores out there that absolutely shouldn’t be selling these products.
“I’ve seen vaping products in butcher shops, for instance. I’ve seen them in American candy shops, for instance.
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“We’ve been plagued with these stores should not be allowed to sell these products. This is an age gated product.
“There are many rules and regulations around selling these products, and frankly a butcher does not know these rules.”
Mr Dunne urged the Government to “refocus” on how Britain’s high streets can be repurposed, rather than “demonising” vape stores.
He said: “I think some people have this vision of 1950s high street Britain, which unfortunately is gone.
“Many people, including myself, no longer shop in the high streets, mainly because of high costs for parking.
“You’ve got homeless people, you’ve got really not appealing areas to go into, and we shop differently, we shop online now.
“So we need to really kind of refocus and figure out how to reuse these spaces rather than demonising businesses that are paying taxes, that are creating jobs and that are filling these stores.”
The Prime Minister has said of the plan: “For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline.
“The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for.
“We’re putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street.
“Local councils will be given the powers they need to rein in unwanted shops and bring town centres back to life.”
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