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Tory strategist Lynton Crosby chaired tobacco meeting last year, says Labour Tory strategist Lynton Crosby chaired tobacco meeting last year, says Labour
(2 months later)
Lynton Crosby, the Conservative party's election co-ordinator, chaired a meeting last year where members of the tobacco industry discussed how to block the government's plan to force cigarettes to be sold in plain packets, Labour claimed on Sunday.Lynton Crosby, the Conservative party's election co-ordinator, chaired a meeting last year where members of the tobacco industry discussed how to block the government's plan to force cigarettes to be sold in plain packets, Labour claimed on Sunday.
Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, made the claim in a letter demanding answers to a series of questions about Crosby's contact with ministers and officials involved in the government's decision to shelve the plan.Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, made the claim in a letter demanding answers to a series of questions about Crosby's contact with ministers and officials involved in the government's decision to shelve the plan.
The decision, which was confirmed on Friday, represents a victory for the tobacco industry but has led to calls for Cameron to sack his election strategist because Crosby also runs companies that lobby on behalf of cigarette manufacturers.The decision, which was confirmed on Friday, represents a victory for the tobacco industry but has led to calls for Cameron to sack his election strategist because Crosby also runs companies that lobby on behalf of cigarette manufacturers.
Downing Street has said Crosby was not involved in the decision to shelve the proposed law enforcing plain packaging for cigarettes. But that has not stopped Labour questioning his role in the affair.Downing Street has said Crosby was not involved in the decision to shelve the proposed law enforcing plain packaging for cigarettes. But that has not stopped Labour questioning his role in the affair.
On Saturday it was revealed that Crosby's London-based company CTF had been advising Philip Morris, the tobacco company, since November last year. Downing Street said Cameron, who hired Crosby as his general election co-ordinator last year (initially on a part-time basis), had not been aware of this.On Saturday it was revealed that Crosby's London-based company CTF had been advising Philip Morris, the tobacco company, since November last year. Downing Street said Cameron, who hired Crosby as his general election co-ordinator last year (initially on a part-time basis), had not been aware of this.
On Sunday Burnham said in a letter to Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, that he had discovered further evidence of Crosby's links with the tobacco industry.On Sunday Burnham said in a letter to Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, that he had discovered further evidence of Crosby's links with the tobacco industry.
"I have discovered that before Christmas last year, [Crosby] chaired a meeting at a hotel in central London to discuss, amongst other things, a plan to stop standardised packaging in the UK," Burnham wrote."I have discovered that before Christmas last year, [Crosby] chaired a meeting at a hotel in central London to discuss, amongst other things, a plan to stop standardised packaging in the UK," Burnham wrote.
Department of Health officials met representatives from Philip Morris in January, Burnham went on. "Given these developments, the public are rightly seeking reassurance that Mr Crosby has not used his position within government, nor his access to government ministers, to lobby for changes on tobacco and alcohol policy."Department of Health officials met representatives from Philip Morris in January, Burnham went on. "Given these developments, the public are rightly seeking reassurance that Mr Crosby has not used his position within government, nor his access to government ministers, to lobby for changes on tobacco and alcohol policy."
An aide to Burnam said the information about the Crosby hotel meeting came from a tobacco industry source whom Burnham considered reliable. The aide did not give any more details.An aide to Burnam said the information about the Crosby hotel meeting came from a tobacco industry source whom Burnham considered reliable. The aide did not give any more details.
In a separate move, Jon Trickett, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, has written to Sir Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, asking whether Crosby breached section 7.12 of the ministerial code, which states: "Ministers should take care to ensure that they do not become associated with non-public organisations whose objectives may in any degree conflict with government policy and thus give rise to a conflict of interest."In a separate move, Jon Trickett, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, has written to Sir Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, asking whether Crosby breached section 7.12 of the ministerial code, which states: "Ministers should take care to ensure that they do not become associated with non-public organisations whose objectives may in any degree conflict with government policy and thus give rise to a conflict of interest."
A Downing Street source said Trickett's suggestion that the ministerial code had been broken was "ridiculous" because Crosby was not appointed by the government and was not advising the government on policy.A Downing Street source said Trickett's suggestion that the ministerial code had been broken was "ridiculous" because Crosby was not appointed by the government and was not advising the government on policy.
"He is employed by the Conservative party, not by the government. He does not have a No 10 pass and he does not have a No 10 office," she said. "He advises on general election strategy. We are very confident that there's a firewall and that there has been absolutely no evidence of impropriety.""He is employed by the Conservative party, not by the government. He does not have a No 10 pass and he does not have a No 10 office," she said. "He advises on general election strategy. We are very confident that there's a firewall and that there has been absolutely no evidence of impropriety."
A Department for Health spokeswoman said Crosby was not involved at all in the decision about cigarette packaging. Crosby's CTF did not respond to requests for a comment.A Department for Health spokeswoman said Crosby was not involved at all in the decision about cigarette packaging. Crosby's CTF did not respond to requests for a comment.
In an article for the Sun on Sunday, Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said the Crosby/tobacco affair was "beginning to stink as bad as an old ashtray".In an article for the Sun on Sunday, Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said the Crosby/tobacco affair was "beginning to stink as bad as an old ashtray".
A senior party source said Cameron's failure to find out whether Crosby's firm was representing the tobacco industry was reminiscent of his failure to find out the truth about Lord Ashcroft's tax affairs and his failure to properly vet the former News of the World editor Andy Coulson before employing him in No 10.A senior party source said Cameron's failure to find out whether Crosby's firm was representing the tobacco industry was reminiscent of his failure to find out the truth about Lord Ashcroft's tax affairs and his failure to properly vet the former News of the World editor Andy Coulson before employing him in No 10.
"There's a pattern of behaviour here," said the source. "Cameron is a prime minister who does not ask the questions when he is afraid of finding out the answers. That's not how the country should be run.""There's a pattern of behaviour here," said the source. "Cameron is a prime minister who does not ask the questions when he is afraid of finding out the answers. That's not how the country should be run."
The Faculty of Public Health has announced that it is no longer going to co-operate with the government's responsibility deals – a voluntary approach to getting the food and drinks industry to promote health – because of the decisions to shelve plain packaging for cigarettes and minimum prices for alcohol.The Faculty of Public Health has announced that it is no longer going to co-operate with the government's responsibility deals – a voluntary approach to getting the food and drinks industry to promote health – because of the decisions to shelve plain packaging for cigarettes and minimum prices for alcohol.
Professor John Ashton, president of the faculty, said: "FPH is dismayed and disappointed by the government's decision not to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol and its inaction on standardised packaging for tobacco, despite the clear evidence demonstrating the public health gains these measures would bring."Professor John Ashton, president of the faculty, said: "FPH is dismayed and disappointed by the government's decision not to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol and its inaction on standardised packaging for tobacco, despite the clear evidence demonstrating the public health gains these measures would bring."
The government was now just relying on responsibility deals to improve public health, Ashton said. But "there is no evidence that the 'softly softly' approach of engaging with industry rather than using legislation to improve people's health has been more effective or quicker," he added.The government was now just relying on responsibility deals to improve public health, Ashton said. But "there is no evidence that the 'softly softly' approach of engaging with industry rather than using legislation to improve people's health has been more effective or quicker," he added.
"That's why FPH has decided it can no longer be part of the responsibility deals, because we believe there are more effective ways for our expert members to influence policy and improve health.""That's why FPH has decided it can no longer be part of the responsibility deals, because we believe there are more effective ways for our expert members to influence policy and improve health."
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