News that the European Commission is considering hiking up tax on electronic cigarettes has been described as a retrograde move by local MEP Paul Nuttall.
“The British government must stand up against these measures and UKIP undertakes to oppose any legislation from the EU to put tax on electronic cigarettes.
“They are far healthier than traditional cigarettes but here the ever-controlling European Commission, which is normally hell-bent on protecting its citizens from harm, has its eyes on a tax grab.
“As well as being a healthier alternative they are a source of jobs for innovative British companies and that should be assisted and not hindered by this retrograde move,” said Mr Nuttall, UKIP’s deputy party leader.
“It has been shown that e-cigs help smokers give up tobacco and that should be encouraged as it is helping their quality of life and potentially saving the NHS huge sums of money.
“I have never seen a private pleasure that the EU does not want to tax. This move will hike up the cost of e-cigarettes and push more people back to more harmful tobacco products.
“This move unmasks the real intent of the EU’s Tobacco Directive which was to tax all cigarettes more and help governments make more money.
“To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, ‘The EU’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidise it.’
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