Tobacco control denied their big day as partygate dominates the news agenda

I had intended to be in London today.

Two weeks ago Javed Khan tweeted that he would present his ‘Independent Review into Tobacco Control’ on Wednesday May 25.

The big reveal - including recommendations to help the Government achieve its ambition to be ‘smokefree’ by 2030 - was to take place at County Hall, opposite the Houses of Parliament, from 3.00 to 4.30pm this afternoon.

Although I didn’t get a reply to my request to attend I thought I might go along anyway and see if I could sneak into the room where Khan would be speaking alongside junior health minister Maggie Throup and chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty.

My interest was particularly piqued by the fact that the other confirmed speakers were Bob Blackman (Conservative) and Mary Foy (Labour), chairman and vice chair respectively of the APPG on Smoking and Health which is run by ASH.

My reasoning was if close associates of ASH were going to be present (and possibly representatives of ASH itself) why couldn’t Forest be there too?

Sadly, and despite no formal announcement (as far as I am aware), their big moment was postponed, a victim of partygate and the publication of Sue Gray’s report earlier today.

(For avoidance of doubt, I’m still backing Boris. Move on, folks!)

As for the ‘radical’ Khan review we’ll just have to wait a little longer. I’m sure it will be worth it … [yawn].

Update: Javed Khan has now tweeted, ‘The launch of the report has been delayed due to Goverment scheduling pressures. We are now aiming for June.’