In 1974 almost half of the adult population (46%) smoked in the UK. By 1997 that had gone down to just a bit over a quarter (27%). During the New Labour years the numbers dropped again from 27% to 20%, so a 7% drop in the 13 years.
Since then progress has continued and the progress has been faster in the most recent 12 years for which data is available than it was in the 13 years of New Labour. So, smoking in adults in the UK has gone from from 20% in 2010 to 11% in 2022, that’s another 9% drop.
Even without a headline piece of legislation such as the Health Act 2006 which brought in the smoking in the ban on smoking in enclosed public places ban on 1st July 2007, the NHS has done better in recent years than it did under New Labour, quietly persuading people in surgeries and clinics.
Note England keeping its nose ahead of the devolved administrations.
Charts from House of Commons Library. Percentages from ONS (same data used in charts).
Phil Taylor 