This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jul/23/lynton-crosby-tobacco-issues-david-cameron

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lynton Crosby: I have never discussed tobacco issues with Cameron Lynton Crosby: I have never discussed tobacco issues with Cameron
(35 minutes later)
The Conservative party election strategist Lynton Crosby has put out a comprehensive denial that he has ever discussed or lobbied the British prime minister or the health secretary over plain packaging of tobacco. The Tory party election strategist Lynton Crosby has put out a comprehensive denial that he had ever discussed or lobbied David Cameron or the health secretary over tobacco packaging.
The move follows months of prevarication by David Cameron and carefully worded denials. The move follows months of seeming prevarication by the prime minister with carefully worded denials.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Crosby denied that he had had "any conversation or discussion with or lobbied the prime minister, or indeed the health secretary [Jeremy Hunt] or the health minister [Anna Soubry], on plain packaging or tobacco issues". In a statement issued on Tuesday, Crosby, who runs a lobbying company, denied he had had "any conversation or discussion with, or lobbied, the prime minister, or indeed the health secretary [Jeremy Hunt] or the health minister [Anna Soubry], on plain packaging or tobacco issues".
Downing Street said Cameron welcomed Crosby's statement and agreed with it. Downing Street said Cameron welcomed the statement and agreed with it.
His remarks are clearly designed to draw a line under a continuing controversy over whether he has a conflict of interests in his roles as both a consultant party election adviser and a consultant with Crosby Textor, his lobbying firm. It has been alleged that Crosby Textor works for a large number of clients that would have a direct interest in coalition government decisions, ranging from energy and foreign policy to public health. The remarks were clearly designed to draw a line under the continuing controversy over whether Crosby has got a conflict of interest, being both a consultant party election adviser and consultant with Crosby Textor, his lobbying firm.
The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has repeatedly accused Cameron of caving into big tobacco and Crosby. It has been alleged that Crosby Textor works for a large number of clients that would have a direct interest in coalition government decisions, ranging from energy and foreign policy to public health. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has repeatedly accused Cameron of caving in to big tobacco firms and Crosby.
In Tuesday's statement, issued by his company CTF Partners, Crosby said: "The prime minister has repeatedly and clearly said that I have never lobbied him on anything, including on the issue of tobacco or plain packaging of cigarettes. In Tuesday's statement, issued by his firm CTF Partners, Crosby said: "The prime minister has repeatedly and clearly said that I have never lobbied him on anything, including on the issue of tobacco or plain packaging of cigarettes.
"What the PM said should be enough for any ordinary person but to avoid any doubt or speculation let me be clear. At no time have I had any conversation or discussion with or lobbied the prime minister, or indeed the health secretary or the health minister, on plain packaging or tobacco issues."What the PM said should be enough for any ordinary person but to avoid any doubt or speculation let me be clear. At no time have I had any conversation or discussion with or lobbied the prime minister, or indeed the health secretary or the health minister, on plain packaging or tobacco issues.
"Indeed, any claim that I have sought to improperly use my position as part-time campaign adviser to the Conservative party is simply false.""Indeed, any claim that I have sought to improperly use my position as part-time campaign adviser to the Conservative party is simply false."
At the weekend Cameron was again asked whether he had held any conversations with Crosby over plain packaging. He said he had never been lobbied by his adviser. Pressed to say whether he had discussed the issue, he said: "You have had the answer you are getting". At the weekend Cameron was again asked whether he had held any conversations with Crosby over plain packaging. He said he had never been lobbied by his adviser. Pressed to say whether he had discussed the issue, he said: "You have had the answer you are getting."
Officials at No 10 have increasingly tried to draw a distinction between the work Crosby does as a strategist for the party, and the fact that he does not give policy advice to the prime minister.Officials at No 10 have increasingly tried to draw a distinction between the work Crosby does as a strategist for the party, and the fact that he does not give policy advice to the prime minister.
The comprehensive denial by Crosby raises questions as to why Cameron chose not to end the controversy earlier by making the same total denial himself. A large part of the final Prime Minister's Questions before the summer recess was taken up with Labour allegations over Crosby's lobbying interests. The comprehensive denial by Crosby raises questions as to why Cameron chose not to end the controversy earlier by making the same denial himself.
A large part of the final Prime Minister's Questions before the summer recess was taken up with Labour allegations over Crosby's lobbying interests.
It may be that Crosby and Cameron have been able to look back through the records and are convinced that no meeting or discussion occurred on plain packaging.It may be that Crosby and Cameron have been able to look back through the records and are convinced that no meeting or discussion occurred on plain packaging.
Downing Street indicated that it had not wished to be drawn into a running commentary on the issue.Downing Street indicated that it had not wished to be drawn into a running commentary on the issue.
It has been widely reported that Conservative officials briefed that Crosby had advised Cameron to strip the Queen's Speech down and throw out any barnacles, such as plain packaging, from the legislative programme. It has been widely reported that Conservative officials briefed that Crosby had advised Cameron to strip the Queen's Speech down and throw out "any barnacles", such as plain packaging, from the legislative programme.