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| Labour calls for investigation into Lynton Crosby 'conflict of interest' | Labour calls for investigation into Lynton Crosby 'conflict of interest' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Labour has written to the cabinet secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, asking him to examine whether there is a conflict of interest between Lynton Crosby's commercial lobbying firm and the strategic advice he gives to the Conservative party. | Labour has written to the cabinet secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, asking him to examine whether there is a conflict of interest between Lynton Crosby's commercial lobbying firm and the strategic advice he gives to the Conservative party. |
| Labour made the renewed call for an inquiry after David Cameron repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether he had talked to Crosby about the plain packaging of cigarettes. Ed Miliband accused Cameron of "disgraceful" behaviour. | Labour made the renewed call for an inquiry after David Cameron repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether he had talked to Crosby about the plain packaging of cigarettes. Ed Miliband accused Cameron of "disgraceful" behaviour. |
| Cameron's spokesman stonewalled for 30 minutes after prime minister's questions, saying simply: "Crosby advises the Conservative party on strategy and does not advise the government on policy." | Cameron's spokesman stonewalled for 30 minutes after prime minister's questions, saying simply: "Crosby advises the Conservative party on strategy and does not advise the government on policy." |
| Crosby's firm Crosby Textor works for the tobacco firm Philip Morris, although its list of clients is not published. | Crosby's firm Crosby Textor works for the tobacco firm Philip Morris, although its list of clients is not published. |
| In a rowdy end to the parliamentary year at the final session of prime minister's questions before the summer recess, the Labour leader mocked Cameron as "the prime minister for Benson and hedge funds". | In a rowdy end to the parliamentary year at the final session of prime minister's questions before the summer recess, the Labour leader mocked Cameron as "the prime minister for Benson and hedge funds". |
| Crosby is masterminding the Tory general election campaign in 2015. | Crosby is masterminding the Tory general election campaign in 2015. |
| Philip Morris lobbied the Department of Health earlier this year against introducing plain packaging for cigarettes. The government recently shelved its plans. | Philip Morris lobbied the Department of Health earlier this year against introducing plain packaging for cigarettes. The government recently shelved its plans. |
| Miliband asked Cameron whether he had ever had a conversation with Crosby about plain cigarette packaging. The prime minister sidestepped the question, saying Crosby had never lobbied him. | Miliband asked Cameron whether he had ever had a conversation with Crosby about plain cigarette packaging. The prime minister sidestepped the question, saying Crosby had never lobbied him. |
| Cameron said: "I'll answer the question. He [Crosby] has never lobbied me on anything. But if he [Miliband] wants a lobbying scandal why doesn't he try the fact that the trade unions buy his policies, buy his candidates, they even bought and paid for his leadership? That is a scandal and he should do something about it." | Cameron said: "I'll answer the question. He [Crosby] has never lobbied me on anything. But if he [Miliband] wants a lobbying scandal why doesn't he try the fact that the trade unions buy his policies, buy his candidates, they even bought and paid for his leadership? That is a scandal and he should do something about it." |
| Miliband hit back: "The whole of the country will have heard – it is those same weasel words he is sticking to. He can't deny that he had a conversation with Lynton Crosby about this issue. | Miliband hit back: "The whole of the country will have heard – it is those same weasel words he is 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. His own [MP] for Totnes [Dr 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. His own [MP] for Totnes [Dr Sarah Wollaston] described it as a day of shame for this government. |
| "He is the prime minister for Benson and hedge funds and he knows it. Can't he see 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?" | "He is the prime minister for Benson and hedge funds and he knows it. Can't he see 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?" |
| The prime minister, who said the government would be publishing a bill to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists, said Labour was no in position to offer lectures on standards in public after former ministers described themselves as cabs for hire. | The prime minister, who said the government would be publishing a bill to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists, said Labour was no in position to offer lectures on standards in public after former ministers described themselves as cabs for hire. |
| Miliband said: "The reality that he cannot admit is that, against the advice of every public health organisation, he has caved in to big tobacco. It's Andy Coulson all over again. He is a prime minister who doesn't think the rules apply to him – dinner for donors, Andy Coulson and now big tobacco in Downing Street. He always stands up for the wrong people." | Miliband said: "The reality that he cannot admit is that, against the advice of every public health organisation, he has caved in to big tobacco. It's Andy Coulson all over again. He is a prime minister who doesn't think the rules apply to him – dinner for donors, Andy Coulson and now big tobacco in Downing Street. He always stands up for the wrong people." |
| The prime minister accused Miliband of avoiding the major issues on the economy as unemployment fell. "Every day this country is getting stronger and every day he is getting weaker," Cameron said. | The prime minister accused Miliband of avoiding the major issues on the economy as unemployment fell. "Every day this country is getting stronger and every day he is getting weaker," Cameron said. |
| The prime minister later joked that theremight be no need for Crosby because Labour was doing his work for him. "The role of Lynton Crosby is to advise me about how to defeat a divided and useless Labour party. I have to say on the basis of today's evidence I am not sure he is really necessary." | The prime minister later joked that theremight be no need for Crosby because Labour was doing his work for him. "The role of Lynton Crosby is to advise me about how to defeat a divided and useless Labour party. I have to say on the basis of today's evidence I am not sure he is really necessary." |
| Cameron had tried to embarrass Miliband by saying that ministers in the last Labour government had taken a similar decision to the coalition and had rejected plain packaging for cigarettes. Miliband said Andy Burnham, now shadow health secretary, had reversed that decision and favoured plain packaging in February 2010. | Cameron had tried to embarrass Miliband by saying that ministers in the last Labour government had taken a similar decision to the coalition and had rejected plain packaging for cigarettes. Miliband said Andy Burnham, now shadow health secretary, had reversed that decision and favoured plain packaging in February 2010. |
| Crosby said: "The prime minister has said everything that needs to be said on this." | Crosby said: "The prime minister has said everything that needs to be said on this." |
| The Conservative chairman, Grant Shapps, said no on BBC Radio 4's The World at One when directly asked whether Crosby had had any conversations with ministers about strategy on tobacco. |