Coffey’s ‘ultra-libertarian’ health stance risking lives, Tory ex-minister warns

MP and doctor Dan Poulter says health secretary's ideas over nanny statism' are stopping action on obesity and smoking

• I'm a Tory MP, but Therese Coffey is putting ideology above nation's health

People could die because of Therese Coffey's ultra-libertarian ideological" reluctance to crack down on smoking and obesity, a Conservative ex-health minister has warned.

The strongly worded criticism of the health secretary came from Dr Dan Poulter, a Tory MP and NHS doctor who served as a health minister in the coalition government from 2012 to 2015.