US tells Nato to ‘boost firepower’ ahead of Trump-Zelensky meeting

The US has urged NATO to boost its firepower amid a growing Russian threat to the military alliance.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that Washington expects its allies to have “strong and real capabilities that adversaries respect”.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of Nato defence ministers held in Brussels, he urged members of the alliance to invest more into the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) arms initiative for Ukraine, which allows Nato to buy US weapons and supply them to Kyi.v.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is said to be “optimistic” about ending Putin’s war in Ukraine after his successful ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, according to the White House.

The US president, who has made concerted efforts to bring Putin to the negotiating table over the last three months, warned Russia that the war must end because it is not making the country look good earlier this week.

Trump said the Russian “economy is going to collapse” and claimed there were “long lines waiting for gasoline” – but Moscow has hit back, saying it has a “stable supply”.

Trump has threatened to give Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine – but can they turn the tide of the war?

As Russia continues to bombard Ukraine with drone attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky has made repeated and increasingly urgent calls for Kyiv to have access to more powerful and expansive weapons.

The US-made Tomahawk could be the answer to his problems. A long-range missile with huge potential for precision strikes deep in enemy territory, access to the weapon would provide Ukraine with a new kind of military might – and it may not be as far away as it once was.

Donald Trump has threatened to send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine in a renewed push to get Vladimir Putin to end the war. With Zelensky set to visit Washington on Friday, the leaders have said the provision of the weapons will be a major topic to be discussed.

If Trump follows through on his threats, Ukraine could significantly expand its strike capabilities, enabling it to hit targets deep inside Russian territory, including military bases, logistics hubs, airfields and command centres that are currently beyond reach.

But experts have warned the impact of the missile shouldn’t be overstated, with Trump’s threats more likely to see diplomatic shifts than game-changing military movements.

The Tomahawk missile is a US-made long-range cruise missile typically launched from sea to attack targets in deep-strike missions.

First used in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War, the missiles have evolved considerably over the last 30 years. According to manufacturer Raytheon, the most recent version, called the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk, or TACTOM, can switch targets while in flight, loiter for hours and change course instantly on command.

Its most recent use came in 2024, when the US and UK Navies launched Tomahawk missiles at Houthi rebel sites in Yemen.

The precision-guided weapon can strike targets from 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away, even in heavily defended airspace. Measuring 20 feet (6.1 meters) long with an 8.5-foot wingspan and weighing in at about 3,330 pounds (1,510 kg).

But it doesn’t come cheap. The missiles have an average cost of $1.3 million, according to Reuters news agency, making it a valuable – but costly – military acquisition.

Speaking to The Independent, Dr Sidharth Kaushal, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said the Tomahawk is guided to its target by a combination of digital scene mapping area correlation and GPS, giving it a “comparatively high survivability” and precision when compared with other missiles, such as the Ukrainian Flamingo.

“In conjunction with a lower radar cross section, these features make the Tomahawk a far more lethal capability against targets situated at strategic depth than the Flamingo which is likely to be employable primarily against relatively soft targets associated with Russia’s hydrocarbon sector,” he explained.

But Dr Kaushal warned the effectiveness of Tomahawks “must not be overstated”.

“Russia has spent decades optimizing its air defence network against threats such as subsonic cruise missiles and many of the systems it operates including ground-based SAMs and interceptors like the MIG-31BM were built partially with a view to managing the risk posed by Tomahawk,” he continued.

“As we have seen in the context of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, missiles comparable to the Tomahawk like the KH-101 and Kalibr can be intercepted in relatively large numbers by a dense air defence network.”

Moscow has expressed “extreme concern” over the US potentially providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Previously, Putin himself has suggested that such a move would seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev responded to the threat in a statement on Telegram, where he said it is impossible to distinguish between Tomahawk missiles carrying nuclear warheads and conventional ones after they are launched.

“How should Russia respond? Exactly!” Medvedev said on Telegram on Monday, appearing to hint that Moscow’s response would be nuclear.

Medvedev wrote: “One can only hope that this is another empty threat… Like sending nuclear submarines closer to Russia.”

He was referencing Trump’s statement in August that he had ordered two nuclear subs to move closer to Russia in response to what he called “highly provocative” comments from Medvedev about the risk of war.

Experts have said the use of the missiles could force Russia to relocate air defence systems and reprioritise their assets. But they warned that despite Trump’s rhetoric, the use of the missiles was unlikely to make a seismic shift on the front line.

“The Tomahawk’s ability to strike targets in depth can be both militarily and economically disruptive but ultimately will not fundamentally alter the situation at the front line,” Dr Kausal said. This is because there are a “limited number” of ground-based launchers for Tomahawk missiles and that the US, which produces 50-70 a year and has expended hundreds in the Middle East, would likely have to limit the number provided to Ukraine.

But he warned the impact of Tomahawks on Russian strategy depends to a “great extent” on what they are aimed at, and how effectively.

Dr Kaushal said even fairly major strategic setbacks had failed to greatly alter Russia’s overall strategy in the past.

“If the targets are high value military assets the Russians will likely have to rethink the allocation of air defence assets and, where possible, disperse or relocate some military capabilities but the fundamental strategy will be unchanged,” he explained.

He added any strikes on politically significant targets such as Moscow could drive an “intensification” of Russia’s campaign in Ukraine – and potentially escalate its activities in Nato countries, as recently seen in Poland.

“In addition, if Russia views the use of Tomahawk as being in effect a US attack because it judges that the capability needs US support for target development, it might adopt a more escalatory approach to its sub-threshold attacks in NATO territory,” he continued. “The pattern of sabotage, arson, damage to critical infrastructure and cyberattacks might escalate in tempo and risk acceptance as the Russians try to reassert their red lines.”

The provision of missiles carries a risk for the US president, who has made no secret of his desire for a good relationship with Russia. Putin has made clear he would consider any such move to be a major escalation in the opposite direction to Trump’s ambitions.

After Trump’s efforts to negotiate peace with Putin stalled following the high-stakes summit in Alaska in August, the US president has repeatedly encouraged Putin to end the war, but has met with little success. As a result, their relations have soured, with Trump recently labelling Putin a “paper tiger”.

Dr Kaushal any decision to send Tomahawks to Ukraine could spell “the end of the détente with Russia which Trump seemed to be pursuing” in the short-term, but added it was unlikely to fundamentally change relations between the two countries in the long-term.

However, Dr Kaushal believes the acquisition could shift Moscow’s broader strategy diplomatically.

“If Russia views Ukrainian possession of Tomahawk not through the lens of the war in Ukraine per se but rather through the prism of the wider strategic balance, they may have an altogether different significance since Russia would view them not as a small Ukrainian arsenal but as a forward deployed element of a much larger US strike capability,” he said.

“As such, the bet seems to be that Russia’s tendency to view US allies’ capabilities as extensions of the US military, and its aversion to having US missiles in locations which enable strikes to be conducted with minimal early warning, will act as an incentive to negotiate more seriously.”

Once you see what’s wrong with Trump’s peace photo, you can’t unsee it

The Gaza conflict has had a particular impact on women and girls. But a visitor to the planet observing the recent Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit would never know. When Egypt released the list of global leaders and officials attending the Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh – more than 25 nations and international bodies in total – the only woman on the list was Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni.

As the smallest person in attendance, you might have thought she’d have been ushered to the front. But no. For a while she was left to bob about at the back completely invisible – and ignored, until president Donald Trump went out of his way to acknowledge her presence at the final press conference – by calling her “beautiful”. This is not the attention to detail that women need in peace talks.

There is an immediate problem with the absence of women leaders on the world stage, and it matters for the lives of women and girls in the region, and, I would argue, for the wider chances of sustainable peace. The World Bank has reported that women in positions of leadership can reduce the likelihood of violent conflict as well as the prospects for peaceful resolution of existing conflicts, while the European parliament has stressed the important contribution women make to bringing different perspectives on what peace and security mean.

Despite it being 2025, maybe we shouldn’t have been too surprised at this all-but-one male lineup. More than 100 countries have still never had a female head of state. Women leaders, we know, face countless barriers, from media stereotyping them as less capable than men, to reduced financial support, to sexual violence and online death threats, which might all count towards barriers to success.

But this matters. For starters, preventing and responding to sexual violence is vital to resolving conflicts, enabling development and building sustainable peace. This statement was at the heart of a UK government summit back in 2014 and also a report by Wilton Park – the UK government’s organisation for international policy dialogue – that highlights the importance of including women and girls in any survivor-centred peace process.

Reports of strategic violence against Palestinian and Israeli women have been a dreadful drumbeat throughout the conflict. During the attacks on Israeli communities on 7 October 2023, Hamas used sexual violence “as part of a deliberate genocidal strategy”, according to the Dinah Project, a group of female Israeli legal and gender experts, and a UN mission later concluded there was convincing information to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the attack in multiple locations.

According to a report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, direct attacks by Israel on healthcare facilities offering sexual and reproductive healthcare services have impacted about 540,000 women and girls of reproductive age in Gaza.

There is no specific reference to a survivor-centred process in the Gaza peace plan. But perhaps this is no surprise when the planning room is dominated by men. What about other references to building back lives? Women and girls have paid the highest price of the conflict, according to the UN, who say that in just one year, Gaza accounted for seven in 10 women killed in conflict globally.

Back in November 2024, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that two-thirds of the then 11,000 people killed in Gaza were women and children. UN agencies also reported severe disruptions in maternal, newborn, and child health services due to bombardments and infrastructure damage. The United Nations special rapporteur on Violence Against Women described the situation as an assault on Palestinian women’s dignity and rights. UN Women Palestine has pointed out that women living in Gaza have unique and urgent needs and vulnerabilities relating both to the conflict and structural gender discrimination.

The peace plan unveiled by Trump et al promises that a panel of experts will draft an economic development plan to “rebuild and energise Gaza”. Analysis of the plan by US nonpartisan think tank the Council on Foreign Relations also highlights talk about a special economic zone with preferred tariff and access rates and cites “thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas” to “create jobs, opportunity, and hope” for Gaza.

But the devil will always be in the detail and without it, it is unclear to what extent the men in the group photograph discussed what that means for the thousands of women and girls of Palestine, who have been living in overcrowded shelters with no privacy, limited access to food and water and no access to safe and dignified toilet and bathing facilities.

There doesn’t seem to be anything under the “opportunity and hope” headline for women and girls who need menstrual hygiene, sexual and reproductive health and social support. Nor does the reference to jobs appear to incorporate how women access jobs under laws in Palestine that assume women to be under the protection and guardianship of men.

The final point in the peace plan is for the United States to “establish a dialogue” between Israel and the Palestinian territories to agree on a political horizon “for peaceful and prosperous coexistence”.

Perhaps by establishing a dialogue with women, this latest proposal might stand a chance. Until then, we will have to trust the men to know what women want – and need. But details, details, details…

UK’s most remote pub cancels Harry Potter party after backlash

The UK’s most remote pub has been forced to cancel a Harry Potter-themed Halloween party this year after staff received “inappropriate grief” in response to the theme.

The Old Forge in Inverie, within the Knoydart peninsula in the Scottish Highlands, said that the event was planned as “just a fun night” which had proved “dividing”. The author of Harry Potter, JK Rowling, has become a controversial figure due to her views on trans rights.

The pub, which can only be accessed by foot or boat, said that any upset caused by the themed night was “unintentional”.

In a social media post, the pub said: “Hello all, The pub management team has decided to cancel this year’s Halloween dinner party. It was always meant to be just a fun night, but unfortunately using Harry Potter as a theme has proven dividing, and some of our staff have received inappropriate grief as a result.

The pub said it had planned to hold a collection for a trans youth charity on the night in line with its recent participation in Knoydart Pride.

“We thought it was clear how we feel about everyone’s rights, especially given our recent support of the amazing Knoydart Pride celebrations – we had also planned a charity collection for trans youth on the night.

“Any upset caused by our theme choice was most certainly unintentional. We will continue to host a kids party in the Wee Bar from 5:00pm, but all other service that day will be as normal including in the restaurant.

“Finally we would just like to reiterate that the pub cares about everyone in our community, and we would ask folk to be kind and respectful to eachother, and our staff. Should anyone have an issue please reach out to the management committee direct through appropriate formal channels. Cheers!”

The community-owned tavern is known as the UK mainland’s “most remote pub”, only reachable by walking 18 miles or a seven-mile sea crossing.

In 2022, the pub offered a free drink to walkers if they could get there for a short campaign.

On its website, the pub calls the walk into the village “challenging” with variable ground conditions.

“Paths can easily be lost in deteriorating weather, and mobile phone signal is patchy. The walk in should only be undertaken by those with sufficient hillwalking experience.”

Is tactical voting now the only way to defeat Farage?

There is nothing surprising about a new poll that suggests Reform UK could win an overall majority if a general election were held now – and that the Conservatives might not be far from extinction.

The latest MRP poll from Electoral Calculus – using a technique that analyses a large poll to estimate what would happen in every constituency – suggests that Reform might win as many as 445 seats (an overall majority of 240), leaving the Tories with a rump of just seven MPs. Even Labour are credited with just 73 seats.

We might wonder what to make of this “explosive megapoll” (as the newspaper that commissioned it put it), which seems to suggest Nigel Farage is set for the biggest Commons majority in modern political history.

First, there is nothing unusual about its headline voting numbers. It reckons that Reform, on 33 per cent, are 14 points ahead of Labour (on 19 per cent) and 17 points ahead of the Conservatives (on 16 per cent).

These figures are only a little more favourable to Reform than the current polling average; regular polling on average puts Reform on 32 per cent, 12 points ahead of Labour (on 20 per cent) and 14 ahead of the Conservatives (on 18 per cent).

On that assumption about the national movement being repeated everywhere, what is remarkable is not the MRP’s suggestion of the number of seats that Reform would win. It is that Labour’s estimated vote share is 16 points down on what the party won last year.

There are 81 constituencies where the party won less than 16 per cent last year. The Conservative vote is down eight points, and there are 64 seats where the party won less than 8 per cent last year.

So if the current national position in Wednesday’s poll was to play out in a general election, Labour and Conservative support would be bound to fall more heavily in at least some of the seats where the party did better last year – and thus potentially in the very seats they would be trying to defend against Reform. This, indeed, is the fate the Conservatives suffered last year.

According to the poll, Labour’s support is currently down on average by 21 points in seats it won last year – five points above its estimated Britain-wide fall. Meanwhile, the drop in Conservative support in Tory-held seats is 12 points, four points above the position in the country as a whole.

It is these figures that explain why Reform is projected to win a landslide majority.

This is not the first MRP poll to suggest both Labour and the Conservatives are losing ground more heavily in their previous heartlands. Both YouGov and More in Common reported a similar pattern last month.

That said, unlike those two polls, Wednesday’s included Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party among the possible options. At 5 per cent, the party is reckoned to be doing especially well in seats with a substantial Muslim population.

Labour’s vote fell heavily in such seats last year, and the poll suggests the challenge from Corbyn means it could do so again. Not only could this result in Corbyn’s new party winning 13 seats, but also help pave the way for Reform to gain support from Muslim voters, too.

Labour are hoping to counter the challenge from Reform by persuading voters to choose the party in order to keep Farage from Downing Street.

Using evidence from previous work on the willingness of voters to vote tactically, Electoral Calculus have attempted to explain what this would mean for the outcome in seats.

This brings the estimated Reform tally down to 367 seats – similar to the 374 seats the party would win if the swing everywhere matched the change across the country as a whole, and still a comfortable 84-seat majority. In effect, tactical voting might counteract the tendency for Conservative and Labour support to fall more heavily in seats they were defending,

Even so, the Conservatives would still be left with a rump of just 24 seats, and Labour with no more than 117.

In the current electoral climate, Reform is potentially the beneficiary of an electoral system under which it is possible for a party to win a large majority on just a third of the vote. Wednesday’s poll indicates it will require much more than an appeal to voters to vote against Farage to stop that from happening. It will require dissuading voters from backing Reform in the first place.

John Curtice is professor of politics at Strathclyde University, and senior fellow at the National Centre for Social Research and The UK in a Changing Europe

Hidden gem holidays: An insider guide to the Dominican Republic

The advent of autumn sees us thinking ahead to how to keep that sunshine feeling going through till winter; and there’s nothing better for keeping our spirits up than the idea of booking a holiday somewhere tropical. Enter the Dominican Republic, a warm and welcoming Caribbean nation perched to the south of the Turks and Caicos islands, and east of Jamaica. Known for its beautiful beaches, premium resorts and some legendary golf courses, there is, as the saying goes, genuinely something for everyone. If you want to make your holiday more than just a fly and flop, there’s plenty to explore, from Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s tallest mountain, to historic sites in the country’s lively capital, Santo Domingo.

But first, where’s the best place to stay? Consider Costa Esmeralda, in the Miches area on the Island’s northeastern coast, a picturesque and pristine stretch of sand fringed with coconut palms that lean over the calm, turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Neighbouring Punta Cana and the wider Bávaro area combine to form what’s known as La Costa del Coco, or the Coconut Coast, an area of lavish, all-inclusive hotels which is also popular for windsurfing, kayaking and sailing.

Base yourself at Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort Curio by Hilton, an oceanfront resort boasting 800-metres of secluded beach on the shores of Playa Esmeralda. Located just 90 minutes’ drive from Punta Cana International Airport, the emphasis here is firmly on fun and relaxation. It features six restaurants, six bars and lounges, four pools and several water slides, and for those who like to keep fit while away, there’s a pickleball court, a paddle tennis court, and a full-service fitness centre which offers yoga and pilates classes. The Acana spa aims to reconnect soul and spirit with therapies inspired by ancient traditions, while you’ll also find a daily programme of art and cultural activities, plus live nightly entertainment. Bringing the kids? They’ll love spending time at the Coki Cove Kids Club or Palmchat Teens Club.

There’s a choice of rooms, suites or bungalows, all tastefully decorated with Caribbean flair, and offering stunning views. Select accommodations even feature private plunge pools, and Club Azure and bungalow guests have access to additional dining options and a rooftop pool. Talking of dining, you’ll experience a world of flavour, with menus inspired by the traditions of the Caribbean, Thailand, and the Amalfi Coast; think spicy, street-food inspired dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and local favourites. All this, and unlimited drinks and cocktails, too!

What’s more, booking with British Airways Holidays means you can secure your holiday now with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments*. Once you’re ready to jet off, you can enjoy increased checked baggage allowance, a dedicated 24-hour helpline during your trip and the option of quality car hire with no hidden fees, 24-hour support and roadside assistance.

Upgrade to Club World and you’ll also get lounge access**, increased baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding, and a spacious seat that converts to a fully flat bed. Members of The British Airways Club enjoy even more benefits in the form of collecting Avios (British Airways’ frequent flyer currency) and earning tier points, which unlock frequent flyer status and other benefits. Avios can also be used towards the cost of your holiday, presenting even greater value for money for members.

All this means you can totally relax during your stay at Hilton Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort, knowing you’re getting the quality and peace of mind you’d expect from a British Airways Holidays.

If you can tear yourself away from the resort – tough, we know – there’s lots to experience throughout the Dominican Republic. Take a day trip to Santo Domingo, one of the Caribbean’s oldest cities; its walled, cobblestoned, historic centre, the Zona Colonial, has impressive Spanish buildings dating back to the 16th century, including the Gothic Catedral Primada de America and the Alcázar de Colón palace, which sits on the laid-back, cafe-lined Plaza de España. The latter is now one of the city’s many museums, displaying striking medieval and Renaissance art. In the pretty Parque del Este is the Faro a Colón, a large mausoleum and museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus, who landed on the island known as Hispaniola (now divided into the Dominican Republic and Haiti) in 1492. For a taste of life in bygone times, visit Altos de Chavón, a fascinating replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village, featuring art galleries and studios, boutiques and a striking amphitheatre.

Looking for something a little more adventurous? Get back to nature at Los Haitises National Park, where you can explore mangrove forests, caves and unique rock formations, or the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua, a series of tumbling falls perfect for swimming, splashing and jumping into. And don’t miss the incredible Hoya Azul, a cenote, or sinkhole, with crystal-clear, aquamarine waters; it’s located in Scape Park, a natural adventure park featuring lush jungles and jaw-dropping cliffs, where you can go zip-lining or explore the caves. There is whale watching in Samana Bay – humpback whales can be found here during their breeding season, January to March. While Lago Enriquillo, a salt lake with surrounding wetlands, is home to crocodiles and various bird species, including flamingos. All in all, your holiday to the Dominican Republic is guaranteed to be unforgettable; so get booking now!

British Airways Holidays packages include a generous baggage allowance for each customer and come with full ATOL protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your holiday to Hilton Zemi Miches Punta with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*.

*Based on two sharing. Full balance due seven weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

**Subject to availability

Groundbreaking ‘super vaccine’ could stop cancer from spreading

A groundbreaking “super” vaccine could stop cancer growing and spreading entirely.

Researchers say they have developed a novel “nanoparticle-based” jab that can prevent melanoma, pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancer in mice.

The study showed up to 88 per cent of the vaccinated mice remained tumour-free, depending on the type of cancer – while the disease’s spread was reduced and even completely stopped in some cases.

The new research demonstrates not only that the drug can shrink and clear cancer tumours in the rodents, but also that it can work preventively. The experimental drug has not yet been trialled on humans.

Prabhani Atukorale, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which led the study, said: “By engineering these nanoparticles to activate the immune system via multi-pathway activation that combines with cancer-specific antigens, we can prevent tumour growth with remarkable survival rates.”

Vaccines generally work by delivering an antigen, the piece of the disease-causing pathogen, such as cancer cells, and an adjuvant, a substance that helps the immune system recognise the antigen and eliminate it.

To overcome difficulties faced in finding suitable adjuvants in cancer treatment, the researchers at UMass Amherst said they developed a lipid nanoparticle-based “super adjuvant”, which delivers two different adjuvants.

Three weeks after they were “super” vaccinated, the mice were exposed to melanoma cells, with 80 per cent of them remaining tumour-free, while none of those given traditional jabs survived for longer than 35 days, according to the findings.

The jab was also shown to protect against the spread of cancer to the lungs. “Metastases across the board is the highest hurdle for cancer,” said Ms Atukorale, who is co-author of the paper. “The vast majority of tumour mortality is still due to metastases, and it almost trumps us working in difficult-to-reach cancers, such as melanoma and pancreatic cancer.” But in the trial, none of the “super” vaccinated mice developed lung tumours, while all of the other mice did.

However, the researchers then conducted a second test. In the first part of the study, antigens that matched the type of cancer were developed and used, but in the second, they used killed cancer cells taken directly from the tumour mass, called tumour lysate.

After the mice were “super” vaccinated with the nanoparticle lysate jab, they were exposed to various types of cancer cells, and the results were even more impressive.

The tumour rejection rates were 88 per cent for pancreatic cancer, 75 per cent for breast cancer, and 69 per cent for melanoma, with all remaining tumour-free when the researchers tested if the disease would spread.

“The tumour-specific T-cell responses that we are able to generate – that is really the key behind the survival benefit,” said Griffin Kane, postdoctoral research associate at UMass Amherst and co-author of the paper.

The researchers, whose study was published in Cell Reports Medicine last week, said that their design “offers a platform approach that could be used across multiple cancer types”.

One part of the UK might escape Starmer’s smoking ban, minister admits

One part of the UK might escape Keir Starmer’s flagship smoking ban because of a key post-Brexit deal with the European Union, a minister has admitted.

The government wants to ban smoking for an entire generation, potentially saving millions of lives by ensuring anyone currently aged 15 or younger will never be able to buy cigarettes legally.

The proposals were first put forward by Rishi Sunak, but he ran out of time to bring them in before the 2024 general election. Labour has enthusiastically backed the plan since coming to power last summer.

But now, asked for a guarantee that it would apply in Northern Ireland – as well as England, Wales and Scotland – a minister could only say that was the government’s “intention”.

It follows warnings that the smoking ban risks breaching another key piece of legislation, the Windsor Framework deal with the EU.

This is designed to deal with the post-Brexit problem about what to do at the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the scene of many atrocities during the Troubles, amid fears a so-called ‘hard border’ would lead to checkpoints that risk becoming the focus of future attacks.

In a bid to avoid that the UK and the EU agreed a system under which, when it comes to goods, NI aligns with EU laws.

Earlier this year former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland raised the alarm over the smoking ban, saying that, because it demands goods have to be treated as they would be in the EU, the law therefore requires that tobacco remain legal for adults over 18 in NI.

But the government’s bill would criminalise its sale to anyone born after 2009 across the UK, including in NI.

At the time Sir Robert said: “The right to buy legal goods like tobacco is protected under the Windsor Framework and the Good Friday Agreement. Strip that away, and the government is staring down the barrel of a serious legal defeat.

“If the Bill applies in Northern Ireland, we breach EU law. If it doesn’t, we fracture the UK’s internal market. Either way, we’re in breach of the treaty we signed just last year.”

He also warned that if Labour ministers ploughed ahead with the Bill as it was “we are heading straight for the courts”.

“The government must hit pause. Either negotiate an exemption… or remove Northern Ireland from the scope of the Bill,” he said.

Asked in the Commons by shadow minister Mike Wood for an assurance that the ban would apply in NI and that he has confirmed that with the EU, the secretary of state for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn replied: “It is certainly the government’s intention that the ban will apply in Northern Ireland, because I think it’s very important that young people all over the United Kingdom are protected in the way in which the bill seeks to do.”

Shopkeepers found to be selling to anyone under age will receive on-the-spot fines of £200.

The legislation includes a total ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, including displays seen by children and young people such as on buses, in cinemas and in shop windows, bringing them in line with tobacco restrictions.

The health secretary Wes Streeting has enthusiastically backed the plans to create a “smoke-free generation” by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought, arguing there is “no freedom in addiction”.