Rachel Reeves is set to hike a tax that could push Brits into the arms of criminals, it has been claimed. Industry polling suggests that more than half of British smokers are now actively considering switching to illegal cigarettes, blaming relentless increases in the levy on tobacco. One in three smokers are already buying illicit cigarettes, data suggests, with 51% saying higher taxes would tempt them to the UK's booming tobacco black market. A pack of non-duty paid cigarettes, sold in pubs, out of car boots or under the counter, costs as little as £4.50, three times cheaper than normal products.

Conservative MP for Windsor Jack Rankin, said: "These figures prove what we've been saying for years - punishing taxes on ordinary smokers doesn't stop demand, they just drive people straight into the arms of smugglers and criminals. Instead of hammering Brits with sky-high excise, Labour should be fixing our borders and shutting down the black market that is costing the Treasury billions."

In October, the Chancellor announced immediate increases of 2% on tobacco duty, and 10% for hand-rolled tobacco.

The Telegraph reported in March that the Treasury has been left with a £2.6billion black hole after smokers seeking to avoid price rises turned to illegally imported tobacco.

Official figures show that at least 14.5% of the UK tobacco market is illegal, with some believing the proportion to be double that.

Surveying suggests that a third (33%) of smokers say they have purchased illicit cigarettes.

Of these, just under half (49%) did so for the first time within the past year.

Research also revealed that just over half (51%) of smokers have been offered illicit cigarettes, and 54% have considered purchasing them.

56% of smokers said illicit cigarettes are easy to obtain, and 51% of smokers say they would be more likely to purchase illicit cigarettes if the government placed higher taxes on tobacco.

Moreover, data feedback suggests that 58% of smokers say their primary reason for purchasing or considering illicit cigarettes is that they are cheaper, or because they believe government tobacco taxes are unfair.

The Office for National Statistics reported that around six million people aged 18 years and over smoked cigarettes in the UK in 2023.

This was the lowest proportion of current smokers since records began in 2011.

However, smoking rates have crept up in some parts of England for the first time in nearly 20 years, according to University College London research.