BLAENAU Gwent MP Nick Smith has welcomed the government’s u-turn on plain packaging for cigarettes, but said there should be immediate action – not another review.

Mr Smith, who has campaigned on the issue of bringing in plain packaging for cigarettes as a way of deterring youngsters from smoking, said: “Five hundred and seventy children start smoking every day and they are talking about further delays and further reviews.

“Eight out of 10 smokers start smoking by the age of 19. If we are to discourage children from ever starting, we need to look at the marketing of a highly addictive and seriously harmful product.

“After the Labour Government banned advertising, tobacco manufacturers developed increasingly sophisticated marketing devices for their packaging.

“That’s why the last Labour Government proposed standardised packaging was the next step in the fight against tobacco, and that’s why I will continue to fight to protect the health of our community.”