Boris Johnson has slammed Rishi Sunak’s smoking policies, calling his plans to phase out the sale of tobacco products “crazy”.

Current Prime Minister Announcing his proposal at the Conservative Party conference In 2023, he said he would raise the legal age for buying cigarettes in England by one year each year, eventually creating a “smoke-free” generation.

But his predecessor in Downing Street was joined by another former leader, Liz Trusscriticized the move.

While Sunak’s policies have been praised by health professionals, they are also seen by some as restricting freedoms.

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Speaking at a right-wing conference in Canada on Wednesday night, Mr Johnson said: “In general, we support freedom and I think it is the Anglo-Saxon idea of ​​freedom that unites conservatives, or should unite conservatives.

“When I see some of the things that we’re doing now, or that are being done in the name of conservatism, I think they’re absolutely crazy.”

The former prime minister added of the smoking policy: “When Winston Churchill’s party wants to ban cigars, as Quebecers say, that’s crazy.”

The proposed smoking bill has not yet been approved by Parliament but will be presented to MPs in the House of Commons on April 16.

The legislation is expected to pass as the plan has the backing of Labour, but Mr Sunak could still face resistance from the right of his own backbenchers.