Tobacco control campaign "victim of sabotage"
Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 13:40 BBC Points West, the local evening news programme, has been in touch.
They are broadcasting an item today in relation to Plain Packs Protect, the plain packaging campaign run by Smokefree South West.
Smokefree South West claim that they have been "inundated by pro-smoking/choice organisations such as Forest, backed by the tobacco industry with FOI requests in relation to their campaign.
The BBC has interviewed Professor Gabriel Scally, recently retired head of public health for the South West, and they also want to interview someone from Forest.
Dr Scally, I am told, is critical of the tobacco industry, and campaigners like Forest, for their FOIs about plain packaging not only in the UK but in Australia, "in particular the expense and time it is causing them in having to respond to some 35 requests FOI requests including very detailed ones for emails".
How dare campaigners ask questions about the use of public money to fund anti-tobacco campaigns! (See Public money used to lobby government on plain packaging.)
I'm sure that Dick Puddlecote and others will have something to say about this.
Update: I have just watched the local lunchtime news in which I made a fleeting appearance justifying the use of FOI questions to find out how much public money is being used to promote plain packaging.
The report began with the extraordinary claim, by Smokefree South West, that the "NHS-funded campaign" is a "victim of sabotage". I kid you not!
The report also referred to the "big debate" on plain packaging in Bristol tonight.
More to follow.
Update: My colleague Angela Harbutt has written a very good piece for the Hands Off Our Packs website - Bully boy tactics not working.
Reader Comments (1)
The NHS funded campaign???? I have a letter today from Anne Milton in which she specifically denies ANY NHS funding has been used, the Govt, she assures me will listen to ALL interested parties, and takes neither the plain packs protect or HOOPs side, and she absolute refutes that Govt is lobbying Govt in the SW.
That's why people no longer vote Conservative. We want truth and not propaganda and lies from a minister who thinks we're really stupid and will believe any old crap despite the evidence to the contrary.