Angela Rayner has revealed that her children are “disgusted” by her vaping habit. The Housing Secretary told LBC that she wishes she could “give it up completely”, acknowledging the health risks and saying she would be “devastated” if her children took up the habit.
Rayner's admission on LBC
Speaking to LBC during an interview about the Government’s plan to crack down on high street vape shops, Rayner said she has had a “problem with nicotine” since she was a teenager. Around 5.5 million people in the UK vape, but Rayner said she wants to quit.
“I’m from a generation where, as a teenager, I thought it was cool to smoke. It wasn’t, and my kids are disgusted by me vaping,” she said. “I started vaping to give up smoking. I’ve had a problem with nicotine since I was a teenager, and I’ve had it on and off. I wish I could just give it up completely.”
Concern for children and vape shops
Rayner said she would be “devastated” if her children started vaping, which is why she supports the crackdown on vape shops near schools and flavoured products. “It is not cool,” she added.
In August last year, Rayner was photographed vaping on a dinghy near Brighton beach. Previously, she has spoken about how her children call her a “vape dragon”.
Lifetime addiction
Rayner had said she planned to quit before the Government’s plan to ban disposable vapes, which has already come into force, according to The Telegraph. When asked about her vaping, she said: “Unfortunately, I do. I’ve cracked down on it. I’ve cracked down on it, but I do vape.”
She added: “It’s been a lifetime of addiction for me, which is probably going to damage my health. You know, I’m very clear on that - that it’s not a good, healthy thing to do.”
Born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in 1980, Rayner grew up on one of the area's poorest council estates. From an early age she cared for her mother, who had bipolar disorder and suffered from depression. Both her parents were unemployed, and in 2017 she spoke about having to grow up very quickly, reports BBC.
