[Intl-tobacco] 'Tobacco Ken not fit to be Tory leader'

[Robert Weissman]

We're a little late on this story, which has been driven forward by ASH
UK and others ...

http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?story=3DUS1318604M&news_headline=3Dtobac=
co_ken_not_fit_to_be_tory_leader
Lifestyle Extra


          'Tobacco Ken not fit to be Tory leader'


Friday, 14th October 2005, 08:41
Category: Politics
<http://www.lse.co.uk/NewsCategories.asp?Catid=3D1&Category_Name=3Dpolitics=
>

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LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - Kenneth Clarke is "unfit" to be Tory leader
because of his links with the tobacco industry, a medical expert has warned=
.

The prospective candidate is deputy chairman of British American Tobacco
(BAT) which holds a sixth of the global market and has been "a leading
supporter of the industry for well over 30 years", says Professor Mike
Daube.

While he was minister for health in the eighties his Government was
criticised for its "cosy relationship" with the tobacco industry, adds
Prof Daube who is a campaigner for tobacco control.

Mr Clarke was also accused by the Observer newspaper of writing a letter
"pressurising the Chairman of the government funded Health Education
Council 'to soften its line on low tar cigarettes and actively to
promote their use.=92"

Writing in the British Medical Journal, Prof Daube says that throughout
his ministerial career Mr Clarke maintained contact with BAT and other
tobacco companies.

He also accepted an invitation from tobacco giant Philip Morris to the
Formula One Grand Prix, saying at the time that he was "happily opposed
to the advertising and sponsorship ban being proposed by the (European)
Commission", and "I will certainly do my best to ensure that our
Government maintains its opposition."

Prof Daube said: "BAT is the world=92s second biggest tobacco company,
selling more than 850 billion cigarettes annually. Clarke is a central
figure in the company, has been a well paid deputy chairman for seven
years, and energetically promotes the company and its products around
the world.

"He has been actively involved in BAT=92s efforts to undermine the tobacco
control work of organisations such as the World Health Organization and
the European Union."

He went on: "Clarke even for an extra =A325,000 became chairman of British
American Racing, which in the words of BAT=92s advisers reaches 'young
people (who) are traditionally early adopters of new media capabilities
and consequently a very receptive audience."

Prof Daube says Mr Clarke is in no doubt about the dangers of smoking to
health and has even acknowledged the "rather feeble attempts to dispute
the scientific evidence."

Yet he "has been actively involved in BAT=92s efforts to undermine the
tobacco control work of organisations such as the World Health
Organisation and the European Union," says Prof Daube, who is professor
of health policy at Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western
Australia.

The herald of modern Conservative values, Benjamin Disraeli, wrote that
"the first consideration of a minister should be the health of the
people," says Professor Daube.

As deputy chairman of BAT, a company which "can already be credited with
upwards of three quarters of a million deaths every year", Kenneth
Clarke is not fit for the office of party leader, he adds.

Prof Daube said: "There was a time when the conduct of tobacco industry
leaders could be explained, if not excused. Many had started in the
industry long before the first evidence on the dangers of smoking appeared.

"But Clarke started supporting and working for the tobacco industry many
years after the dangers of smoking had been demonstrated beyond doubt by
Sir Richard Doll and Sir Austin Bradford Hill, and confirmed by
innumerable authoritative reports.

"BAT knows that smoking kills one in two of its regular users, and is
predicted to cause a billion deaths this century. With one sixth of the
global market, BAT=92s products can already be credited with upwards of thr=
ee
quarters of a million deaths every year.

"The tobacco industry comprises evil companies, promoting and selling a
product they know to be lethal. Kenneth Clarke has been a supporter of
the industry for over 30 years, and one of its leaders since 1998.
Surely a peddler of death and disease has no place aspiring to lead the
party of Disraeli, let alone a great country.

"If he is elected, companies such as BAT will flourish with access at
the highest levels, while their products
kill more and more millions in Britain and around the world."