Angela Rayner says she would be ‘devastated’ if her children vaped as she admits she can’t quit
Angela Rayner has spoken publicly about her long-standing addiction to nicotine, admitting she would be "devastated" if her children took up vaping despite her own inability to quit. The communities secretary, who took up vaping to help her stop smoking, described the habit as a "lifetime of purgatory", highlighting the tension between government efforts to crack down on vape shops and her personal struggle to give up nicotine altogether. Her remarks come as ministers move to tighten regulation of the vaping industry as part of a wider push to improve Britain's high streets.
Speaking to LBC, Rayner said she had battled nicotine addiction since her teenage years and wished she could quit completely, noting that her children, who call her the "vape dragon", are "disgusted" by the habit. The government has announced that new vape shops will require planning approval from next year, with tighter rules to stop retailers dodging regulation by calling themselves "convenience stores". Separately, ministers plan to give councils greater powers to block vape and betting shops, including scrapping the Blair-era "aim to permit" rule, as part of a broader scheme to tackle "hollowed-out high streets" championed by Andy Burnham and the prime minister.
In short
- Rayner admits nicotine addiction, calls vaping "a lifetime of purgatory"
- New vape shops will need planning approval from next year
- Councils to get more power to block vape and betting shops
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Government regulation of vaping is warranted to protect young people from nicotine addiction, as youth vaping rates rise and nicotine's addictiveness is well-documented. Rayner's own account of lifelong dependence and her concern for her children illustrates why supply-side measures like planning requirements and shop restrictions are justified. These policies can shield vulnerable young people whilst enabling adults to access cessation support.
The case against
Vaping remains substantially less harmful than smoking and has proven effective for people like Rayner seeking to quit cigarettes. Stricter regulation risks unintended consequences—driving users to illicit markets or back to conventional smoking—and could impede harm reduction for existing smokers. Government would better serve public health by investing in cessation support, youth education, and marketing restrictions rather than supply-side measures that restrict adult access to effective alternatives.
Explained simply
Nicotine is the addictive substance in tobacco, and vaping delivers it through an inhaled vapour. Some people use e-cigarettes to move away from smoking, but they can still contain nicotine and may sustain dependence.
Angela Rayner is a Labour politician and the government’s communities secretary. Her comments draw attention to a public health issue that also affects families: adults may use vaping to manage or replace smoking, while remaining concerned about young people starting nicotine use.
The government’s proposed rules form part of a wider effort to shape town centres, where councils have had limited ability to refuse certain shops. Changes to planning rules could give local authorities more say over where vape retailers open, alongside other businesses such as betting shops.