Thérèse Coffey to drop smoking action plan, insiders say

Officials say health secretary will not publish plan, as campaigners warn smoke-free' UK is seven years behind target

Ministers are expected to break a promise to announce an action plan to tackle smoking, in their latest controversial U-turn on public health, Whitehall insiders say.

The government had committed several times to publish a tobacco control plan later this year". However, the health secretary, Therese Coffey, does not intend to honour that promise, according to officials with knowledge of her intentions.