17
London-News
February 2014
David Cameron urged to support car
smoking ban ahead of vote in Commons
Pressure grows on prime minister amid new questions
over adviser's links to tobacco industry.
Pic: Yalkın Süreç
David Cameron was under pressure on Saturday night to
clarify whether he would support a ban on smoking in cars
carrying children, as health experts raised new questions over
links between his chief election strategist Lynton Crosby and
the tobacco industry.
In advance of a key Commons vote on Monday, Philip Morris
International – which strongly opposes a ban on smoking in
cars – confirmed to the Observer that it was still receiving
advice from Crosby's lobbying firm, the London-based Crosby
Textor Fullbrook.
On Saturday night Dr Nicholas Hopkinson, senior lecturer in
respiratory medicine at Imperial College London, who last
week organised a letter to MPs signed by 700 experts working
in respiratory health, which demanded a ban, voiced concern
that someone so close to the tobacco lobby was working at the
heart of government. "Given the huge burden of ill health
caused by tobacco smoke, any suggestion that tobacco
lobbyists have access to the heart of government decision
making would be extremely disturbing," Hopkinson said.
A spokesman for Philip Morris said: "CTF advises us on a
variety of issues in the UK", and said its position on banning
smoking in cars was spelled out in detail on its website.
Monday's vote on whether to ban smoking in cars carrying
children under 18 is being held after the House of Lords
backed a Labour amendment in favour of the move. The
Conservative party has granted its MPs a free vote on the
issue, which looks certain to divide the cabinet. Several senior
ministers including Kenneth Clarke, Eric Pickles and Chris
Grayling have indicated they will vote against a ban. Health
secretary Jeremy Hunt has declined to comment. A spokesman
for the prime minister said that he would make up his mind
when he had heard the arguments in the Commons. Last
week's letter organised by Hopkinson said that a ban should be
introduced because secondhand smoke was a "major cause of
ill health in children" particularly among disadvantaged
groups.
On Saturday night, Labour asked why Cameron was still
undecided when health experts were united. The shadow
health secretary Andy Burnham said: "David Cameron is
clearly conflicted on tobacco policy and one can only wonder
what advice his right-hand man is whispering into his ear in
the runup to this important vote.
"Come Monday night we will find out whether Cameron and
the Tory party are ready to wean themselves off their tobacco
links and do the right thing by children's health."
Labour will vote for a ban and, with support from some Tory
and Liberal Democrat MPs, it is likely to be approved. But the
issue has reignited debate over the Australian lobbyist's role at
Cameron's side and his company's lucrative work for Philip
Morris. On its website, Philip Morris says smoking should be
prohibited "in hospitals and health institutions, as well as
schools and other facilities for youth". But it adds: "We do not
believe that banning smoking in outdoor public places or in
private places such as cars and homes is the right approach.
"We believe smoking should be allowed in outdoor public
spaces, except areas intended primarily for children or where
smoking could be dangerous. For private places, we believe
that education, rather than legislation, is a more appropriate
way forward."
Last July, after the government had appeared to drop plans to
introduce plain packaging of cigarettes (a move strongly
opposed by the tobacco industry), the prime minister refused
repeatedly to deny that he had ever discussed the issue with
Crosby, who was then working part-time for the Tory party.
Crosby then took the heat out of the controversy when he
issued a straight denial saying that "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."
Late last year, fearing a defeat in parliament, the government
changed tack again and opened the door to a future decision in
favour of plain packaging.
In November it was announced that Crosby had taken up a
full-time position as election strategist to the Tories in a deal
said to be worth £500,000.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of health charity ASH said
that because of Crosby's presence, and his links to Philip
Morris, the government was in the strange position of having
to demonstrate its independence from the tobacco industry.
"The vast sum Philip Morris spent putting Lynton Crosby's
firm on its books has to be the worst investment they've ever
made. Not only did it fail in the initial aim of stopping
standardised packaging, it's actually encouraged the
government to go further and allow a free vote on smoking in
cars to prove its independence from the tobacco industry."
Source: theguardian.com Toby Helm and Lucy Fisher The
Observer.