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Lynton Crosby 'would have discussed' cigarette packaging with PM Lynton Crosby 'would have discussed' cigarette packaging with PM
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron would have discussed the government's decision to abandon plain cigarette packaging with the Tories' chief election strategist Lynton Crosby, Sir John Major's former press secretary has claimed.David Cameron would have discussed the government's decision to abandon plain cigarette packaging with the Tories' chief election strategist Lynton Crosby, Sir John Major's former press secretary has claimed.
Sheila Gunn, who served as communications chief to Major in his final years in Downing Street, said that the prime minister has looked very uncomfortable in recent days, as he deflected questions on whether he discussed tobacco policy with Crosby. Sheila Gunn, who served as communications chief to Major in his final years in Downing Street, said Cameron has looked very uncomfortable in recent days, as he deflected questions on whether he discussed tobacco policy with Crosby.
The PM faced pressure after he repeatedly refused to say on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 on Sunday whether he discussed plain cigarette packaging with Crosby. "It's the answer you're getting," a laughing Cameron told Marr, as he said that Crosby had not "intervened" on tobacco policy. The prime minister faced pressure after he repeatedly refused to say on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 on Sunday whether he discussed plain cigarette packaging with Crosby. "It's the answer you're getting," a laughing Cameron told Marr, as he said that Crosby had not "intervened" on tobacco policy.
Gunn was critical of Cameron's performance. She told the Today programme on Radio 4: "It was quite an uncomfortable exchange … It was difficult. Obviously Cameron would have been rehearsed to some extent how to answer this question." Gunn was critical of Cameron's performance. She told the Today programme on Radio 4: "It was quite an uncomfortable exchange … It was difficult.
Cameron refused once again to say whether he discussed plain cigarette packaging with Crosby whose consultancy, Crosby Textor, acts on behalf of the tobacco giant Philip Morris International. "Obviously Cameron would have been rehearsed to some extent how to answer this question."
"I think I dealt with that on Sunday," the PM said after his speech to the NSPCC when ITV News's deputy political editor, Chris Ship, asked him whether Crosby had advised him that voters do not like politicians who avoid answering questions. Cameron refused once again to say whether he discussed plain cigarette packaging with Crosby – whose consultancy, Crosby Textor, acts on behalf of the tobacco giant Philip Morris International.
"I think I dealt with that on Sunday," the PM said after his speech at the NSPCC headquarters in London when ITV News's deputy political editor, Chris Ship, asked him whether Crosby had advised him that voters do not like politicians who avoid answering questions.
Gunn added that Cameron would have discussed plain cigarette packaging with Crosby. "Lynton's job is to go through all different policies with David Cameron and advise him whether or they are going to be vote winners or vote losers. So the subject's clearly come up.Gunn added that Cameron would have discussed plain cigarette packaging with Crosby. "Lynton's job is to go through all different policies with David Cameron and advise him whether or they are going to be vote winners or vote losers. So the subject's clearly come up.
"But the choice of verb intervene – just like at prime minister's question time last week he said he hadn't been lobbied by Lynton on this. The fact that he wouldn't expand on whether or not they talked about it and his body language – he just looked very uncomfortable.""But the choice of verb intervene – just like at prime minister's question time last week he said he hadn't been lobbied by Lynton on this. The fact that he wouldn't expand on whether or not they talked about it and his body language – he just looked very uncomfortable."
Crosby faced renewed pressure himself when the Guardian published a leaked document which showed that his firm advised private healthcare providers on how to exploit perceived failings in the NHS. Crosby faced renewed pressure himself when the Guardian published a leaked document which showed his firm advised private healthcare providers on how to exploit perceived failings in the NHS.
Crosby Textor Partners advised the H5 Private Healthcare Alliance at the end of 2010 on the basis of polling it conducted to discover attitudes to public and private healthcare. Crosby Textor Partners advised the H5 Private Healthcare Alliance at the end of 2010 on the basis of polling it conducted to discover attitudes to public and private healthcare.
The Association of Independent Healthcare Organisations – the successor body to H5 – confirmed that Crosby Textor had previously acted on its behalf.The Association of Independent Healthcare Organisations – the successor body to H5 – confirmed that Crosby Textor had previously acted on its behalf.
In a statement issued by Mark Detre from the Westminster Advisers consultancy, which now advises the body, the AIHO said: "Crosby Textor Fullbrook provided research and advice into public attitudes on healthcare to H5. H5 is a predecessor to the Association of Independent Healthcare Organisations and they did that in 2010 and 2011. The arrangement between CTF and H5 ended in mid 2011. AIHO is a new organisation formed in March 2013 and has no relationship with CTF." In a statement issued by Mark Detre from the Westminster Advisers consultancy, which now advises the body, the AIHO said: "Crosby Textor Fullbrook provided research and advice into public attitudes on healthcare to H5.
"H5 is a predecessor to the Association of Independent Healthcare Organisations and they did that in 2010 and 2011. The arrangement between CTF and H5 ended in mid 2011. AIHO is a new organisation formed in March 2013 and has no relationship with CTF."
But Detre declined to comment on a report on the Guido Fawkes website that Westminster Advisers, run by the Labour supporter and former councillor Dominic Church, organised a cross-party meeting at the end of 2010 which was shown the Crosby Textor research. Detre said: "I'm not going to go into that. I have given you the statement we are giving out. That is all we are saying."But Detre declined to comment on a report on the Guido Fawkes website that Westminster Advisers, run by the Labour supporter and former councillor Dominic Church, organised a cross-party meeting at the end of 2010 which was shown the Crosby Textor research. Detre said: "I'm not going to go into that. I have given you the statement we are giving out. That is all we are saying."