In this joint blog, Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor and Lord Michael Bichard explore the complex and evolving challenge of illicit tobacco in the UK. While national figures show a dramatic decline in the illicit market over the past two decades, local communities continue to grapple with its harmful presence. Drawing on insights from the LGA and National Trading Standards, they highlight the need for sustained investment, and the importance of resisting misleading industry narratives that threaten public health progress.
