The Labour MP for Lewisham and Deptford moves several members of the Commons to tears as she recounts her baby daughter’s death. Speaking during a debate on stillbirths, Vicky Foxcroft describes being pregnant at 16 and losing her baby after just five days
Launch funds: Philip Morris’ Marlboro cigarettes. Photograph: Paul Sakuma/AP
The chairman of an influential Home of Commons decide on committee investigating the tobacco trade hosted a parliamentary reception funded by a cigarette giant, the Observer has established.
Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs select committee (HASC), held a reception to launch a report funded by Marlboro manufacturer Philip Morris Global (PMI) which warns that plain packets for cigarettes will motivate smuggling, an argument described by wellness campaigners as a scare tactic to derail an initiative that will make smoking less desirable to youthful men and women.
Vaz has spoken in parliament on plain packaging, suggesting smuggling presently expenses the Treasury a lot more than £2bn a year – a line promoted by the industry. He was amid 72 MPs who signed a letter to Jeremy Hunt, the wellness secretary, saying that plain packaging will increase the illicit trade in cigarettes.
Earlier this yr he wrote to the prime minister urging him not to attain a decision on plain packaging until finally his committee had reported on its inquiry into tobacco smuggling. Many of the claims suggesting the introduction of plain packaging will encourage smuggling stem from a report, The Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in the United Kingdom, which was launched by Vaz in January 2013 at a reception for 100 influential guests in parliament’s Terrace Pavilion.
The event was attended by MPs and members of the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Treasury, the Severe Organised Crime Agency, Border Force and Trading Specifications. The report by Transcrime, a thinktank, was sent to each MP. A week right after the reception, Vaz announced that his committee was to investigate tobacco smuggling.
His determination to launch the inquiry into tobacco smuggling so soon after hosting a tobacco sector event has been condemned by health campaigners. Below Globe Overall health Organisation suggestions, signed up to by Britain, politicians involved in policies that could have an affect on cigarette companies ought to “establish measures to limit interactions with the tobacco business and make certain the transparency of individuals interactions that arise”.
“Mr Vaz ought to not place the interests of tobacco firms above people of his constituents, the bulk of whom support the introduction of plain packaging,” mentioned Deborah Arnott, chief executive of overall health charity Ash.
On 24 February this yr, as the government-commissioned Chantler report into plain packaging was finished, Vaz wrote to the prime minister: “I am writing to ask that no selection on the introduction of plain packaging be taken until finally the committee has finished its inquiry and the government and the Residence has had the advantage of our report.”
Arnott stated it was tough “to comprehend” why Vaz would publish such a letter that some MPs on the HASC stated they did not know had been sent in their name. “This seems to be like a last-minute try to cease standardised packaging by the back door,” Arnott mentioned.
Transcrime strongly rejects claims that its study is compromised by tobacco money. It says its perform is at all times independent. PMI says it did not see the analysis until it was published, and insisted that there was total disclosure that it had funded the report and the parliamentary reception.
“As a concerned stakeholder in the fight against the illicit trade in tobacco, Philip Morris Ltd paid for the refreshments and reception fees for this occasion,” a firm spokesman mentioned. “In line with our inner protocols, we acknowledged this on the invitation to the occasion and the backdrops at the occasion. Our funding for the analysis itself is acknowledged by Transcrime in the report.”
Vaz explained that it was the practice “to publish to acceptable ministers if we are conducting an inquiry into a subject and a government choice is imminent, to ask the government to wait till HASC publishes its report.” He mentioned committee members received copies of all letters and replies sent by him. And he rejected tips he was pro-tobacco. “I do not assistance any line from any group or organisation,” Vaz stated.
Any delay in the introduction of plain packaging would be welcome information for the tobacco market. Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco and British American Tobacco have hired companies to acquire signatures from the public to oppose the initiative. According to the EU lobbying register, all 3 organizations have considerably enhanced their spending on lobbying in the last two many years as they have sought to derail moves to introduce plain packaging.
Protesters celebrate after the higher court ruled that a decision to consist of Lewisham hospital in ideas to dissolve South London Healthcare Believe in was illegal. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA
Ministers have defused a potential Commons rebellion in excess of future hospital closures by announcing concessions that make it significantly less very likely that a effective hospital will be impacted by a choice to shut a failing one particular close by.
Only six Conservatives and one Liberal Democrat MP voted towards the government in excess of clause 119 of the care bill on Tuesday. However, in the debate a number of coalition MPs voiced disquiet at the power it is made up of to enable a trust special administrator (TSA) employed to type out a failing hospital trust to force via alterations at one more local hospital if they deem it required. That took place when Lewisham hospital in south-east London was integrated in original plans to dissolve debt-ridden South London Healthcare Believe in. The higher court declared the program unlawful.
Dr Dan Poulter, the health minister, mentioned GP-led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that sent individuals to successful hospitals would have the power to block that hospital getting employed to help fix a issue elsewhere if they disagreed.
The former Lib Dem overall health minister, Paul Burstow, sought to withdraw an amendment he had proposed, which would have neutered clause 119, after becoming reassured by ministers that TSA procedures would only be used in extreme circumstances of a hospital failing. He will chair a committee of MPs and peers to oversee the drafting of new advice above the part of CCGs in this kind of situations.
Labour pushed Burstow’s amendment to a vote anyway, even though the government won the division by 47 votes.
Clause 119 had proved divisive, with MPs such as the Tory Nick de Bois (Enfield North) declaring that he could not support it, and Labour’s Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) saying “the TSA regime will be utilised as a steamroller to force by means of the closure and downgrade of hospital solutions with restricted public consultation making use of a procedure which is set up in a way that produces public scepticism and mistrust from the word go”.
Parliament will vote on Monday on a attainable ban on smoking in autos the place kids are present. Photograph: Clive Gee/PA
David Cameron was below pressure on Saturday night to clarify whether he would support a ban on smoking in vehicles carrying kids, as overall health specialists raised new concerns above back links among his chief election strategist Lynton Crosby and the tobacco industry.
In advance of a important Commons vote on Monday, Philip Morris Global – which strongly opposes a ban on smoking in vehicles – confirmed to the Observer that it was nevertheless receiving advice from Crosby’s lobbying firm, the London-primarily based Crosby Textor Fullbrook.
On Saturday evening Dr Nicholas Hopkinson, senior lecturer in respiratory medication at Imperial School London, who last week organised a letter to MPs signed by 700 professionals operating in respiratory wellness, which demanded a ban, voiced concern that someone so shut to the tobacco lobby was operating at the heart of government. “Given the massive burden of unwell health induced by tobacco smoke, any suggestion that tobacco lobbyists have access to the heart of government determination creating would be incredibly disturbing,” Hopkinson said.
A spokesman for Philip Morris explained: “CTF advises us on a selection of concerns in the United kingdom”, and explained its place on banning smoking in autos was spelled out in detail on its web site.
Monday’s vote on no matter whether to ban smoking in autos carrying youngsters below 18 is getting held right after the Property of Lords backed a Labour amendment in favour of the move. The Conservative get together has granted its MPs a free of charge vote on the situation, which seems to be specific to divide the cabinet. Several senior ministers which includes 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 mentioned that he would make up his thoughts when he had heard the arguments in the Commons. Final week’s letter organised by Hopkinson explained that a ban should be introduced due to the fact secondhand smoke was a “main lead to of unwell health in kids” specifically amid disadvantaged groups.
On Saturday night, Labour asked why Cameron was even now undecided when overall health experts have been united. The shadow overall health secretary Andy Burnham said: “David Cameron is plainly conflicted on tobacco policy and one can only wonder what advice his correct-hand man is whispering into his ear in the runup to this important vote.
“Come Monday evening we will find out whether or not Cameron and the Tory party are prepared to wean themselves off their tobacco links and do the appropriate point by children’s overall health.”
Labour will vote for a ban and, with support from some Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs, it is probably to be approved. But the problem has reignited debate over the Australian lobbyist’s position at Cameron’s side and his company’s lucrative function for Philip Morris. On its website, Philip Morris says smoking ought to be prohibited “in hospitals and wellness institutions, as well as schools and other services for youth”. But it adds: “We do not believe that banning smoking in outside public spots or in personal areas such as vehicles and properties is the right technique.
“We think smoking need to be permitted in outside public spaces, except regions meant primarily for kids or exactly where smoking could be harmful. For private areas, we feel that schooling, rather than legislation, is a a lot more appropriate way forward.”
Final July, right after the government had appeared to drop plans to introduce plain packaging of cigarettes (a move strongly opposed by the tobacco market), the prime minister refused repeatedly to deny that he had ever talked about the concern with Crosby, who was then doing work component-time for the Tory get together.
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 certainly the wellness secretary or the health minister, on plain packaging or tobacco troubles.”
Late final year, fearing a defeat in parliament, the government changed tack again and opened the door to a potential choice 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 mentioned to be worth £500,000.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of well being charity ASH explained that simply because of Crosby’s presence, and his links to Philip Morris, the government was in the odd position of getting to demonstrate its independence from the tobacco industry. “The huge sum Philip Morris spent placing Lynton Crosby’s company 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 is truly encouraged the government to go more and enable a free vote on smoking in vehicles to show its independence from the tobacco business.”
