© Getty ImagesAround ten million adults in the UK are smokers - in spite of the ever increasing cost.
Speculation has mounted about whether the cost of
cigarettes is set to increase for a second time in a year in Wednesday's
Budget.
Since the Chancellor already announced an increase in the price of cigarettes in March, the UK's 10 million smokers are hoping to be spared another hike,
which could push the cost of the average pack to over ยฃ10.This week's Budget is unusual in that it will be the second one this year - which normally only happens when there is a change of government.
Philip Hammond effectively gets a second bite of the cherry with the nation's finances, because last year he announced the 2017 Autumn Statement would become an Autumn Budget, with a much smaller "Spring Statement" next year.
Tobacco is subject to an automatic, annual increase in duty of two per cent above the rate of inflation, with the average cost of 20 cigarettes standing at ยฃ9.91 in March after the spring budget slapped an extra 35p on a pack.
Comment: The fascist ban of tobacco use in prisons hasn't gone well in the UK. As more prisons ban smoking, we are bound to hear more stories of violence like the ones listed below. Maybe that is exactly what the PTB want.