Cameron under pressure to enforce sugar tax

The Prime Minister is facing demands to at least consider the intended sugar tax, after it emerged he had not yet read research by Public Health England (PHE), the government’s advisory group, that was controversially delayed by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Ministers are now facing accusations that they attempted to cover the recommendations after it emerged that Hunt requested that Public Health officials refrain from publishing the report until the government’s childhood obesity strategy was ready.

As well as the advised sugar tax, Downing Street are also considering other options to reduce obesity, including a crackdown on advertising sugary products and cut-price promotions of high sugar food and drink.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister has said that there are ‘better ways’ to tackle obesity than implementing a sugar tax. Cameron’s reluctance to back the measure places him at odds with numerous medical groups, health charities, and high profile campaigners including Jamie Oliver.

A survey conducted by the Royal Society of Public Health found that around two-thirds of senior healthcare workers in the UK support the sugar tax.

Conservative MP Nick Herbert is calling for the government to seriously consider the possibility of a sugar tax. He said: “I don’t want to see higher taxes overall, but it’s not a bad principle to tax discretionary items that are bad for us. So I think Jamie [Oliver]’s proposals are worth looking at.

“We have got to deal with the rising social and economic costs of childhood obesity. Once again, the time for Jamie’s campaign has come.”

Read more

Event Diary

Returning to the NAEC Stoneleigh in Warwickshire from 24-26 June, Road Transport Expo (RTX) is back with its winning ‘All about the truck’ formula.

19-20 November 2025, ExCeL London

elementalLONDON’s debut show is the latest launch from the team behind InstallerSHOW, building on the success of the elemental digital brand, which delivers news, views and solutions on reaching net zero to its audience of built environment professionals.

Education Business LIVE is a carefully designed conference and exhibition bringing together education people with a passion for the promotion and development of effective school leadership, management, learning and teaching.

Supplier Profiles

Frontline Cleaners Express

At Frontline Cleaners Express Ltd, we understand the importance of a pristine, hygienic environme

Tinytag

Gemini Data Loggers, established in 1984, designs and manufactures the Tinytag range of data logg