Disposable lighters - which I assume includes a cheap BIC lighter - are banned on my airline due to their lack of a pressure safety valve. I'm sure this is likely to be the case on all British registered airlines.
The only matches allowed on board are safety matches; "strike anywhere matches" are not allowed on any aircraft registered in the UK.
If they're not considered safe in one country how can they be considered safe anywhere else? None of these measures is a reaction to 9/11.