Andy Burnham turns anger on people who smoke after banning barbecues – ‘it is a flamable state of affairs’

The temporary ban on disposable barbecues has come into force in England, Wales and Scotland, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham warning that Britain is a ‘tinderbox’

A provisional prohibition on disposable barbecues was enforced on Friday, following claims that the grills were responsible for numerous wildfires erupting across the nation. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that the ban – applicable to Wales, Scotland and England, but excluding Northern Ireland – would remain “until further notice”.

He also cautioned smokers about lighting up outdoors and implored them to discard cigarettes responsibly. More wildfires have occurred in England and Wales in 2026 so far than in the entirety of 2025, with the recent rash of fires in the West Midlands causing residents to evacuate their homes to escape the advancing flames.

While visiting properties in Stourbridge devastated by wildfire, the Prime Minister stated: “The temporary ban on barbecues, disposable barbecues, comes in today. All retailers will be receiving notification of that ban, and we ask them to, obviously, implement it in full until further notice when we can remove it.”

He also informed journalists: “I would also want to say to the public, you can see what’s happening: 37 significant fires across England and Wales. Please do not light an open fire, a bonfire of any kind. If you’re disposing of a cigarette, take great care. This is obviously a really combustible situation, literally.

“We need to respect that fact and make sure that no-one is taking any risk, because you’re taking risks with other people’s homes, with other people’s lives if you act recklessly in this moment.”

The Prime Minister added: “Britain is a tinderbox right now, and please just have that in your mind.”

Disposable barbecues “have been the cause of a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months”, guidance released online by the Government stated.

The advice, issued by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade on Friday afternoon, said: “Disposable barbecues cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions and must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time.”

The Prime Minister hinted at a potential ban following a Cobra meeting earlier this week, and called on retailers “big and small” to voluntarily halt all sales of single-use barbecues.

Numerous major retailers, including supermarkets, have already taken this step following guidance issued by the British Retail Consortium and National Fire Chiefs Council.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We want everyone to enjoy summer safely. With wildfire risks exceptionally high, we’re taking common-sense steps to protect lives and the environment.

“Disposable barbecues pose an obvious threat in the extreme conditions we’re experiencing, so we’re telling retailers who haven’t already stopped selling them to do so now.”

Jon Pearce, the Labour MP for High Peak, who has been advocating for the temporary ban, expressed his approval of its implementation.

He stated: “I have been calling on retailers to stop selling these products because the risk they pose to our countryside and communities is simply too great in these conditions.

“We have seen devastating wildfires across the country this summer, including in and around the Peak District. We cannot afford to be complacent when the conditions are so dry, and the risk of fire is so high.

“I’m grateful to the retailers who listened to my campaign and took action, and I’m pleased the Government has now gone further by making clear that disposable barbecues should not be available for sale.

“This is an important step to help protect our countryside, wildlife, homes and communities. I will continue to push for action to reduce the risk of wildfires in the Peak District and across the country.”

The prohibition was introduced a year after one of the UK’s largest wildfires ravaged Langdale Moor in North Yorkshire, leading to local demands for a ban on the sale of disposable barbecues.

David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, stated: “For weeks, I have been asking retailers in York and North Yorkshire to remove these £5 wildfire kits from sale, and I’m glad the Government has acted and done the right thing.”

He added: “A temporary halt, particularly in times of dry weather like we’re experiencing currently, is a sensible move to avoid us repeating the events of last summer.

“I will continue to push for retailers to withdraw the sale of disposable barbecues across York and North Yorkshire on a permanent basis.

“The convenience of one must never come before the safety of our rural communities, our landscapes and our wildlife.”