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PMQs: Cameron and Miliband clash over Lynton Crosby Ed Miliband demands Lynton Crosby 'conflict of interest' inquiry
(about 5 hours later)
David Cameron was attacked by Ed Miliband at Prime Minister's Questions over the Tories' election strategist's links to the tobacco industry. Ed Miliband is calling for an inquiry into whether lobbyist Lynton Crosby was behind David Cameron's decision to shelve plans for plain cigarette packs.
The Labour leader claimed Lynton Crosby influenced the decision to shelve plain cigarette packs in England and Wales. Labour says Mr Crosby's job advising the Tories on election strategy and his company's work for tobacco giant Philip Morris is a clear conflict of interest.
He dubbed Mr Cameron the prime minister for "Benson and Hedge funds". Mr Miliband has written to cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to demand an inquiry.
Mr Cameron said the decision to delay plain packaging was made by him and the health secretary and Labour had done the same when in power. Mr Cameron and senior ministers insist Mr Crosby has no influence on policy.
He refused to be drawn on whether he had a conversation with Mr Crosby about plain packaging before making the decision, repeating that the Australian has "never lobbied me on anything". Labour has seized on Mr Crosby's background as a lobbyist for tobacco companies to portray the prime minister as being in the pocket of big business, with Mr Miliband saying Mr Cameron was the prime minister for "Benson and Hedge funds".
'Big tobacco' 'Smear campaign'
They say this is the most likely explanation for Mr Cameron's apparent change of heart on whether cigarette packs in England and Wales should be stripped of their colourful branding to prevent children from taking up smoking.
But the Conservatives have accused Labour of a "smear" campaign designed to distract attention from their own difficulties over the influence of the trade unions.
They have also discovered that a former aide to Mr Miliband, James Barge, now works for Philip Morris as corporate affairs manager - and are demanding to know whether he has lobbied shadow ministers.
Mr Cameron says the decision on packaging has been delayed to gather more evidence - exactly as Labour did when it was in power.
Earlier, at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Miliband asked the prime minister to confirm he had held no discussions with Mr Crosby about plain packaging before making his decision.
Mr Cameron said the Australian spindoctor had "never lobbied me on anything".
Mr Miliband said: "The whole of the country will have heard those same weasel words that you are sticking to. He can't deny that he had a conversation with Lynton Crosby about this issue.Mr Miliband said: "The whole of the country will have heard those same weasel words that you are sticking to. He can't deny that he had a conversation with Lynton Crosby about this issue.
"Even by the standards of this prime minister, this is a disgraceful episode. [Tory MP Sarah Wollaston] described it as a 'day of shame for this government'."Even by the standards of this prime minister, this is a disgraceful episode. [Tory MP Sarah Wollaston] described it as a 'day of shame for this government'.
"You are the prime minister for Benson and Hedge funds and you know it. Can't you see that there is a devastating conflict of interest between having your key adviser raking it in from big tobacco and then advising you not to go ahead with plain packaging?""You are the prime minister for Benson and Hedge funds and you know it. Can't you see that there is a devastating conflict of interest between having your key adviser raking it in from big tobacco and then advising you not to go ahead with plain packaging?"
Mr Miliband had questioned whether Mr Cameron expected people to believe the plain packaging decision was a coincidence after the Conservatives hired Mr Crosby, whose lobbying firm works for Marlboro cigarettes maker Philip Morris in the UK. 'Conflict of interest'
But Mr Cameron said: "Let me be absolutely clear about this - the decision not to go ahead for the time being is a decision made by me and the health secretary. Mr Miliband has now written to the UK's top civil servant Sir Jeremy Heywood claiming that if Mr Crosby had been a government employee he would be guilty of breaching the ministerial code, which forbids conflicts of interest.
In his letter, Mr Miliband says Mr Crosby reportedly met David Cameron at his official country residence, Chequers, ahead of the Queen's Speech at which the apparent U-turn on cigarette packaging was announced.
He adds that Mr Crosby has also represented the oil and gas industry and the drinks industry - both areas in which he claims the government has recently shifted position.
The letter says: "In light of these conflicts of interest, I believe it: A) makes sense for you to launch an inquiry to establish public confidence about the activities of Mr Crosby;
"B) provide details of the checks that the Health Secretary said exist to prevent Mr Crosby being involved in areas where he has clients;
"C) set out what steps you are taking to ensure those checks also apply to Mr Crosby's advice to the Prime Minister, given that they clearly have not to date."
At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said: "Let me be absolutely clear about this - the decision not to go ahead for the time being is a decision made by me and the health secretary.
"If you don't agree with that decision then you can attack me for making it.""If you don't agree with that decision then you can attack me for making it."
He said that when in office, former Health Secretary Andy Burnham had written to Labour MP Tessa Jowell to say there was no evidence to go ahead with plain packaging. Senior ministers - including Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg - have also been lining up to deny Mr Crosby had any influence on policy discussions.
But Mr Miliband replied that subsequently Mr Burnham had reviewed the policy and in February 2010 come out in favour of plain packets.
'Strong and principled'
The prime minister then attempted to turn the tables on Mr Miliband, accusing him of being in the pocket of the trade unions and repeatedly calling him a "weak" leader, as he faced a barrage of questions on Mr Crosby from Labour MPs.
Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, a former GP, who has been campaigning for the introduction on plain packaging, called on the PM to reverse his decision not to go ahead with minimum alcohol pricing.
She has accused Mr Crosby of persuading the PM to ditch potentially unpopular public health policies to improve the Conservatives' chances at the next election.
Mr Cameron praised Mrs Wollaston's "strong and principled" campaign on the issue and said the government had introduced some measures to prevent alcohol being sold too cheaply.
The government announced this week it was putting a decision on plain packaging on hold to study events in Australia, where plain packets were introduced in December last year in an effort to cut smoking.
Labour seized on the apparent U-turn as evidence of the influence of Mr Crosby, who was drafted in earlier this year to sharpen up the Conservatives' campaigning ahead of the next general election.
Lobbying bill
The Australian spin doctor had previously overseen Boris Johnson's victory in last year's London mayoral contest and his public affairs firm has been working with tobacco giant Philip Morris in the UK since November.
Senior ministers - including Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg - have been lining up to deny Mr Crosby had any influence on policy discussions.
Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I have never met the guy. I don't know what he looks like. I wouldn't recognise him if I passed him in the street."Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I have never met the guy. I don't know what he looks like. I wouldn't recognise him if I passed him in the street."
It comes as MPs begin a fresh attempt to clean-up the lobbying industry in the wake of a string of cash-for-influence scandals.It comes as MPs begin a fresh attempt to clean-up the lobbying industry in the wake of a string of cash-for-influence scandals.
The government's lobbying bill is expected to create a register of lobbying agencies, who sometimes employ former MPs to influence government decision-making on behalf of corporate clients. The government's lobbying bill will create a register of lobbying agencies, who seek to influence government decision-making on clients' behalf.
The firms would have to publish a full list of their clients, although some campaigners say this will have a limited effect as it only include "third party" lobbyists, rather than companies, charities and trade unions themselves. The firms would have to publish a full list of their clients, although some campaigners say this will have a limited effect as it only includes "third party" lobbyists, rather than companies, charities and trade unions which lobby directly rather than through lobbying agencies.
On Tuesday, the House of Commons authorities withdrew around 50 parliamentary passes linked to staff employed by all-party parliamentary groups in response to concerns about political lobbying.