Another huge milestone on our road to a smokefree UK

This week, we're celebrating another huge milestone on our road to a smokefree UK, as MPs voted in favour of the tobacco Age of Sale legislation. That means we're one step closer to ensuring that people born since the start of 2009 will never be legally sold tobacco products.

This legislation could help prevent future generations from taking up smoking - the biggest cause of cancer in the UK. But we're not at the finish line just yet.

So, what happened at the vote? And where do we go from here?

How did we get here?

We know that nothing would have a bigger impact on reducing the number of preventable deaths in the UK than ending smoking. That's why we've been campaigning for government action on smoking for over a decade and made it one of our five missions in our plan for longer, better lives.

We've been spreading the message outside parliament for the last couple of days

What's in the legislation?

This legislation would make sure that people born on or after 1 January 2009 (turning 15 this year) cannot not legally be sold tobacco in their lifetime, paving the way for the first ever smokefree generation.

Smoking itself won't be criminalised, and anyone who can legally buy tobacco now won't be prevented from doing so in future.

Enforcement officers will be empowered to give 'on-the-spot fines' of £100 to uphold the new laws and clamp down on underage sales of tobacco and vaping products. This builds on a maximum £2,500 fine that local authorities can already impose on retailers.

The government has also already announced extra funding to help people who smoke quit, including a £70 million investment into local 'stop smoking' services.

Alongside the tobacco Age of Sale legislation, the UK Government is also taking action to tackle youth vaping by making e-cigarettes less appealing to young people.

They've recently announced a ban on disposable vapes, and their upcoming legislation will introduce new powers to regulate the display, packaging, and flavours of e-cigarettes. Before they introduce these new powers, the UK Government has said they'll run a consultation - this won't cover the disposable vapes ban though.

What does this week's vote mean?

The Age of Sale legislation has toget through furtherParliamentary processes before it can become law. After the title of the Bill was read out in parliament(also called the first reading) on 20 March, MPs had their first chance to vote during the second reading, which happened earlier today.

MPs voted 383 to 67 in favour of the Bill- a majority of 316 - and it will now make its way to committee stage for further scrutiny.

In the debatebefore the vote, politicians from all partiesrecognised the massive impact a smokefree generationwould bring forthe health of the country. Manyalso highlighted how Age of Sale legislation could help save the UK billions of pounds by supporting a more productive economy and reducing the burden on the NHS.

Victoria Atkins, the Secretary of State for Healthand Social Care, said the Billwould "free future generations from the tyranny of addiction and ill health".Similarly, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting explained he was voting in favour of the legislation because he wanted to make sure "that today's children are part of the healthiest generation that has ever lived." Meanwhile, Kirsten Oswald, speaking on behalf of the SNP, said it was vital the billpasses and described itas "a positive and necessary move" and Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Coopercalled it a "useful step that will help us to tackle the dangerous health impacts of smoking addiction, to improve population health and to take pressure off the NHS".

How our campaigners have helped make a difference

From driving progress in cancer prevention and early diagnosis, to improving scientific research and access to treatments - Cancer Research UK campaigners are key to making policy change happen.

Savyata (middle) at a SmokefreeUK campaign event

- Savyata, Campaigns Ambassador

The result of this vote is a huge success for us and our supporters, but there's still more campaigning to come.

The fact that we're close to seeing this legislation become a reality isn't just a win for charities like Cancer Research UK, but for everyone that's been campaigning alongside us during that time, too.

- Lynne, Campaigns Ambassador

Lynne outside the Houses of Parliament

Then comes the report stage, where all MPs can propose amendmentsto the Billbefore being invited to make a final vote on it. This process then repeats in the House of Lords. After that, it will go for royal assent, which is when the King agrees to make the Billinto law.

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