UK: David Cameron Forced to Deny Reports Australian Strategist Influenced Cigarette Policy Move

Source from:  Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (au)  07/16/2013

British prime minister David Cameron has been forced to deny that his Australian election strategist Lynton Crosby has influenced his government's decision to drop plans to introduce cigarette plain packaging.

The opposition Labour Party went on the attack in parliament overnight, suggesting Mr Crosby - who runs a consultancy company which has worked for the tobacco industry - had talked to Mr Cameron about the issue.‘

Mr Cameron says Mr Crosby, who has also advised John Howard, and London mayor Boris Johnson, had nothing to do with the government's decision to wait and see how Australia's move to plain packaging pans out before going ahead with it in the UK.

"I've answered the question. He's never lobbied me on anything," Mr Cameron told parliament.

"This is a complete red herring which is raised by the Labour Party because they're in political trouble.

"It works like this - the Conservative Party gives Lynton Crosby money and he helps us attack the Labour Party.

"The trade unions give money to the Labour Party, the other way around and for that, they buy your candidates. They buy your MPs, they buy your policies. They even give you this completely hopeless leader."

But Labour leader Ed Miliband said Mr Cameron's words were too carefully chosen.

"It's those same weasel words he's sticking to," he said.

"He can't deny that he had a conversation with Lynton Crosby about this issue. He is the prime minister for Benson and Hedgefunds, and he knows it."

Mr Crosby avoided questions from reporters, saying "The prime minister has said everything that needs to be said on that issue".

The government has now published proposed legislation on lobbying, under which a statutory register of lobbyists and their interests would be set up.

But the long-promised draft laws have done nothing to satisfy the Opposition.

Labour has written to the cabinet secretary calling for an inquiry into whether there is a conflict of interest between Mr Crosby's work for the government and the activities of his consulting company. Enditem