Jeremy Hunt hammers smokers: Price of hand-rolling tobacco will increase by almost £3 per 30g pack TONIGHT – and the price of 20 cigarettes will rise by 85p as Chancellor hikes duties

The price of rolling tobacco is set to soar tonight as Jeremy Hunt hammered smokers with huge tax rises in his Autumn Statement.

Announcing his latest financial package to the House of Commons, the Chancellor told MPs he would increase the duty on hand-rolling tobacco.

This will rise by an additional 10 per cent above the tobacco duty escalator.

There was also no relief for those who smoke pre-rolled cigarettes, with the duty rates on all tobacco products increased by Mr Hunt.

The price of rolling tobacco is set to soar as Jeremy Hunt hammered smokers with tax rises in his Autumn Statement

There was also no relief for those who smoke pre-rolled cigarettes, with the duty rates on all tobacco products increased by the Chancellor

The duty rates on all tobacco products will rise following the Autumn Statement

The tobacco duty escalator increases duty at the RPI rate of inflation +2 per cent.

It means the price of hand rolling tobacco will be hiked by the rate of inflation plus 12 per cent from 6pm today.

It is estimated the move will rake in an extra £40million for the Treasury next year.

A 30g pack of Players easy rolling tobacco currently costs £16.30 at Tesco. This means it is likely to increase in price by almost £3.

The Treasury action comes as the Government bids to reduce the gap in the cost of hand-rolling tobacco and packets of cigarettes.

A pack of 20 Richmond Original Soft cigarettes at Tesco currently costs £10.45 – meaning the price of a pack is set to rise by around 85p.

The RPI rate of inflation was 6.1 per cent last month.