The London Tobacco Alliance (LTA) has been launched by a group of MPs including Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, public health bodies, and academics with the aim of making London smoke-free by 2030.
The group includes directors of public health bodies, representatives from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, the NHS, local councils, the Greater London Authority, and academic institutions.
According to the LTA, smoking remains the biggest cause of preventable illness and death in the UK, claiming the lives of roughly 64,000 people every year, including nearly 6,000 Londoners.
Smoking also places a strain on the wider population, with the cost to the NHS of smoking equating to roughly £2.4billion according to the LTA.
Mr Blackman MP, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Tobacco, said: “My parents died when I was 23. They both died of cancer. Both died because of smoking.
“We had two years prior to their death of terrible experience, in terms of health and me seeing my parents die literally in front of me.
“I don’t want any family to go through that and so therefore for me, it’s not just a health-related issue or a community issue. For me it’s personal. If we can actually make this work, then we reduce down the terrible impact that tobacco has on society.”
Dr Somen Banerjee, Co-chair and Smoking Cessation Lead, London Association of Directors of Public Health said: “Eliminating smoking remains our single biggest opportunity to close the gap in health outcomes.
“Supporting people to quit smoking is the most impactful factor in improving a person’s health and quality of life and preventing premature death.
To find out more, visit https://londontobaccoalliance.org.uk/.
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