Rishi Sunak has criticised vaping companies for appealing to children – and revealed he is looking forward to US singer Katy Perry performing at the King’s coronation concert.
In an interview with Sky News’ children’s programme, FYI, the prime minister hit out at vaping companies for targeting children with colourful adverts and characters.
He told presenters Maya and Braydon: “These adverts for these things [vapes] are designed to appeal to kids, you know, with the colours they use, the characters they use – that’s not right – their flavours.
“These are all things that shouldn’t be happening.”
Earlier in April, the government announced it would launch an “illicit vapes enforcement squad” as part of a crackdown on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s.
And last week it launched a “call for evidence” into how to reduce the number of children accessing and using vape products.
“No one should be vaping under 18. It’s illegal to sell vapes to children,” Mr Sunak told FYI.
“But yet we know that more and more young people are and we want to stop that.
“So we’re doing a couple of things. One is we are having a crackdown squad.
“We’ve put millions of pounds behind it and they’re going to go make sure all the rules are enforced and people should not be selling vaping products to young people.
“And if they do, then bad things will happen to them.”
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PM ‘excited’ about King’s coronation concert
He added the government is also asking people for the best ideas to prevent children from vaping.
“That’s how governments make policy. I don’t just wake up in the morning and just announce something,” he said.
“You know, we take the time to talk to people, to listen, to get ideas and then make the right decision.”
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Katy Perry, pictured with the King in 2020, will perform at his coronation concert
In the wide-ranging interview, Mr Sunak also revealed what he was looking forward to during the coronation weekend at the beginning of May, and what his weekly meetings with the King are like.
“I’m very excited about the concert,” he said.
“I am looking forward to the concert because Katy Perry is coming, my girls are big fans of Katy Perry so that’s great.”
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King’s Coronation: What to expect
He said he and the King get on well and during their meetings he can see “just how unbelievably committed he [King Charles] is to serving our country and his strong desire to represent everybody, you know, from every walk of life”.
“I think he does that really really brilliantly. And he deserves a lot of praise for that,” the PM added.
“I see it up close, and it’s a real privilege to be able to have that opportunity every week. And we’re lucky to have him doing that job.”
Watch the full interview on FYI on Sky News, Sky Kids or Sky News YouTube at 10.30am and 4.30pm on Saturday and 10.30am on Sunday.
Children can ask their teacher to watch it at school on First News Education TV.