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PMQs: Cameron and Miliband clash over Lynton Crosby PMQs: Cameron and Miliband clash over Lynton Crosby
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron was attacked by Ed Miliband at Prime Minister's Questions over his election strategist's links to the tobacco industry. David Cameron was attacked by Ed Miliband at Prime Minister's Questions over the Tories' election strategist's links to the tobacco industry.
The Labour leader claimed Lynton Crosby influenced the decision to shelve plain cigarette packaging. The Labour leader claimed Lynton Crosby influenced the decision to shelve plain cigarette packs in England and Wales.
He dubbed Mr Cameron the prime minister for "Benson and Hedge funds".He dubbed Mr Cameron the prime minister for "Benson and Hedge funds".
Mr Cameron said the decision to seek further evidence on plain packaging was made by him and the health secretary and Labour had made the same judgement. Mr Cameron said the decision to delay plain packaging was made by him and the health secretary and Labour had done the same when in power.
The prime minister has refused to be drawn on whether he had a conversation with Mr Crosby before making the controversial decision, saying the Australian has "never lobbied me on anything". He refused to be drawn on whether he had a conversation with Mr Crosby about plain packaging before making the decision, repeating that the Australian has "never lobbied me on anything".
'No influence' 'Big tobacco'
Mr Miliband said: "The whole of the country will have heard those same weasel words that you are sticking to. You can't deny that he had a conversation with Lynton Crosby about this issue. Mr Miliband said: "The whole of the country will have heard those same weasel words that you are sticking to. He can't deny that he had a conversation with Lynton Crosby about this issue.
"Even by the standards of this prime minister, this is a disgraceful episode. [Tory MP Sarah Wollaston] described it as a 'day of shame for this government'."Even by the standards of this prime minister, this is a disgraceful episode. [Tory MP Sarah Wollaston] described it as a 'day of shame for this government'.
"You are the prime minister for Benson and Hedge funds and you know it. Can't you see that there is a devastating conflict of interest between having your key adviser raking it in from big tobacco and then advising you not to go ahead with plain packaging?""You are the prime minister for Benson and Hedge funds and you know it. Can't you see that there is a devastating conflict of interest between having your key adviser raking it in from big tobacco and then advising you not to go ahead with plain packaging?"
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also insisted Mr Crosby had no influence on government policy. Mr Miliband had questioned whether Mr Cameron expected people to believe the plain packaging decision was a coincidence after the Conservatives hired Mr Crosby, whose lobbying firm works for Marlboro cigarettes maker Philip Morris in the UK.
Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I have never met the guy. I don't know what he looks like. I wouldn't recognise him if I passed him in the street." But Mr Cameron said: "Let me be absolutely clear about this - the decision not to go ahead for the time being is a decision made by me and the health secretary.
Mr Crosby is accused by Labour of influencing the decision to shelve a ban on branding on cigarette packets. "If you don't agree with that decision then you can attack me for making it."
The lobbyist lists among his clients the tobacco giant Philip Morris. He said that when in office, former Health Secretary Andy Burnham had written to Labour MP Tessa Jowell to say there was no evidence to go ahead with plain packaging.
Asked if Mr Crosby had influenced the decision to delay the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes in England and Wales, Mr Clegg said the decision was taken by the health secretary on the basis that the evidence to support the policy was still inconclusive. But Mr Miliband replied that subsequently Mr Burnham had reviewed the policy and in February 2010 come out in favour of plain packets.
"He is completely irrelevant to the discussions within the coalition government," said Mr Clegg, adding that Mr Crosby has "no role in government policy - he is an employee of the Conservative Party". 'Strong and principled'
'Transparency' The prime minister then attempted to turn the tables on Mr Miliband, accusing him of being in the pocket of the trade unions and repeatedly calling him a "weak" leader, as he faced a barrage of questions on Mr Crosby from Labour MPs.
The government announced this week it was putting a decision on plain packaging on hold to study the results of a similar policy in Australia, where plain packets were introduced in December last year in an effort to cut smoking. Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, a former GP, who has been campaigning for the introduction on plain packaging, called on the PM to reverse his decision not to go ahead with minimum alcohol pricing.
She has accused Mr Crosby of persuading the PM to ditch potentially unpopular public health policies to improve the Conservatives' chances at the next election.
Mr Cameron praised Mrs Wollaston's "strong and principled" campaign on the issue and said the government had introduced some measures to prevent alcohol being sold too cheaply.
The government announced this week it was putting a decision on plain packaging on hold to study events in Australia, where plain packets were introduced in December last year in an effort to cut smoking.
Labour seized on the apparent U-turn as evidence of the influence of Mr Crosby, who was drafted in earlier this year to sharpen up the Conservatives' campaigning ahead of the next general election.Labour seized on the apparent U-turn as evidence of the influence of Mr Crosby, who was drafted in earlier this year to sharpen up the Conservatives' campaigning ahead of the next general election.
Lobbying bill
The Australian spin doctor had previously overseen Boris Johnson's victory in last year's London mayoral contest and his public affairs firm has been working with tobacco giant Philip Morris in the UK since November.The Australian spin doctor had previously overseen Boris Johnson's victory in last year's London mayoral contest and his public affairs firm has been working with tobacco giant Philip Morris in the UK since November.
Senior ministers have been lining up to deny Mr Crosby had any influence on policy discussions. Senior ministers - including Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg - have been lining up to deny Mr Crosby had any influence on policy discussions.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "Lynton Crosby's work is for the Conservative Party. He hasn't lobbied me and he hasn't lobbied the prime minister on issues to do with public health and there is a clear dividing line. Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I have never met the guy. I don't know what he looks like. I wouldn't recognise him if I passed him in the street."
"There is also transparency. We are not hiding this fact."
Scandals
Tory MP and former GP Sarah Wollaston has accused Mr Crosby of persuading David Cameron to sacrifice potentially controversial public health policies such as plain packaging and minimum alcohol pricing for electoral reasons.
Shadow public health minister Diane Abbott said on Friday there was no evidence of a direct link between Lynton Crosby and health ministers but, after further evidence of his links with the tobacco industry emerged over the weekend, she accused David Cameron of "not being straight with the British public" over the affair.
"There are a growing number of questions for which David Cameron has failed to provide answers," she added.
It comes as MPs begin a fresh attempt to clean-up the lobbying industry in the wake of a string of cash-for-influence scandals.It comes as MPs begin a fresh attempt to clean-up the lobbying industry in the wake of a string of cash-for-influence scandals.
The government's lobbying bill is expected to create a register of lobbying agencies, who sometimes employ former MPs to influence government decision-making on behalf of corporate clients.The government's lobbying bill is expected to create a register of lobbying agencies, who sometimes employ former MPs to influence government decision-making on behalf of corporate clients.
The firms would have to publish a full list of their clients, although some campaigners say this will have a limited effect as it only include "third party" lobbyists, rather than companies, charities and trade unions themselves.The firms would have to publish a full list of their clients, although some campaigners say this will have a limited effect as it only include "third party" lobbyists, rather than companies, charities and trade unions themselves.
On Tuesday, the House of Commons authorities withdrew around 50 parliamentary passes linked to staff employed by all-party parliamentary groups in response to concerns about political lobbying.On Tuesday, the House of Commons authorities withdrew around 50 parliamentary passes linked to staff employed by all-party parliamentary groups in response to concerns about political lobbying.