An attack with limited scope and publicity was launched by the Labour party in London, to the adviser to the Prime Minister Liz Truss, and to her as well as the health minister, for the adviser’s previous work in the multinational tobacco companies Philip Morris and British American Tobacco (B.A.T.), and the backbench by Health Minister Theresa Coffey to take forward more far-reaching anti-smoking policies and restrictions for the smoke-free 2030 target set by previous governments.
“Number 10 Downing Street has to answer questions about the involvement of Mark Fullbrook [Liz Truss’s adviser] and any other players in the multinational tobacco industry in the collapse of plans to regulate smoking. The health secretary must also come clean about her own links with the tobacco industry.” said the shadow health secretary from the opposition Labour party referring to the hospitality received by the health secretary Theresa Coffey in 2011 from Imperial Tobacco and the payment of £1132.
Teresa Coffey then voted against the No Smoking in Vehicles Carrying Minors Act in 2015 and had voted against the indoor smoking ban and the Plain Packaging for Tobacco Act as did Liz Truss in most cases.
Liz Truss’s chief of staff recused himself from the discussions for changes to the government’s smoking strategy because of his previous work in the tobacco industry, Sky News reported. The health ministry meanwhile said no decisions have been made. Mr Fullbrook told Sky News he would have “no involvement” in government smoking policy. He also stated that “Despite what people want to imply, I am sensible enough not to abuse my position in any way.”
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