Deliver us from evil

David Seymour, leader of the ‘neoliberal’ ACT Party in New Zealand, is currently on a private visit to the UK.

Last night, at an ‘Enlightenment Evening’ event hosted by the Adam Smith Institute at the National Liberal Club in London, Seymour was asked about the generational tobacco ban which he helped repeal in his own country.

ACT, I should explain, is one of two junior partners in a three-party coalition government led by the centre right National Party, and two weeks ago Seymour was sworn in as deputy prime minister.

ACT was strongly against the generational tobacco ban introduced by Jacinda Ardern’s Labour government (which was due to be implemented from 2027), and according to some reports the party was "insistent", prior to entering into a coalition, that the law be reversed.

Seymour’s role in persuading the National Party to repeal the ban can’t be underestimated because in 2021 it was reported that Christopher Luxon, leader of the National Party and now PM, was ‘broadly’ supportive of the policy.

In December 2022, responding to a New York Times report about the New Zealand tobacco ban, Seymour wrote:

Some people have forgotten that, in a free society, politicians shouldn’t force their authoritarian worldview on adults who are hurting no one but themselves.

Last night, when asked about the generational ban, he didn’t hold back. It’s “quite evil in a way”, he said.

“Smokers are fiscal heroes,” he added. “If you want to save your country’s balance sheet, light up.”

Guido Fawkes has the full quote, and exclusive story, here.

See also: New Zealand - meet the new boss, same as the old boss? (January 2023)