Criticism after tobacco giants pay to attend SNP conference

THE SNP has been criticised after it emerged that tobacco companies had paid thousands of pounds to attend their party conference. Despite the Scottish Government’s tough stance on smoking, cigarette makers Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Imperial were present after buying “business day” passes advertised at £1,750 each.

Scottish Labour MSP, Neil Findlay, said: “The SNP appear to employ a revolving door between their Government and corporate lobbyists.

“If they aren’t handing out conference passes to tobacco merchants for almost £2,000, they are inviting big business bosses to Bute House for unminuted discussions about Government policy over dinner.

Nicola Sturgeon’s party at Holyrood has consistently backed measures to tackle smoking and control tobacco. In opposition, the party supported the UK-wide prohibition on tobacco advertising and its MSPs were also in favour of the smoking ban in public places.

In Government, the Nationalists banned over-thecounter cigarette displays and tobacco vending machines, backed the plain packaging of products and set a target of creating a “tobacco-free generation” by 2034.

One of the companies with a pass was the multi-billion JTI, which is responsible for brands including Benson & Hedges, Camel, Silk Cut, Sobranie and Winston. Two of the firm’s employees were present.

There was also a representative from British multinational Imperial, which is known for products such as as Davidoff, Gauloises and Embassy.The tobacco industry figures, through their business passes, were entitled to attend a private SNP conference dinner last Sunday, but they did not take their places.

A spokesperson for JTI said: “Two representatives from JTI attended the SNP conference business day on Monday, October 8. However, they did not attend the business dinner on the Sunday evening.Their tickets were purchased online via the SNP website and we will, of course, register our conversations as required in Scotland’s Lobbying Register.”

A spokesman for Imperial confirmed a company representative attended “business day”, adding: “Meetings were focused on the positive role vaping can play in helping to meet the Scottish Government’s tobacco-free objectives.” An SNP spokesperson said: “These firms attend all party conferences. It’s only Scotland that aims to create a tobacco-free generation by 2034. We’ve banned smoking in cars with children, banned sales of tobacco and vapour products to under-18s and are introducing age-verification measures.”