Tory MS under fire for sponsoring Senedd tobacco firm event
A WELSH Conservative MS has been criticised for sponsoring an event involving a large tobacco company inside the Senedd estate.
The chairman of the Senedd smoking and health cross-party group, John Griffiths MS, said he was “disappointed and concerned” about the decision to allow the event involving Japan Tobacco International (JTI) to go ahead.
JTI is part of Japan Tobacco, one of the world’s biggest cigarette companies, whose brands include Camel, Benson and Hedges, Silk Cut and vaping brands including Ploom and Logic.
The event is due to go ahead today and will be sponsored by Conservative MS Darren Millar. Mr Millar said it would focus on the problem of cheap, illegal tobacco on sale in Wales.
Mr Griffiths said the event “undermined” Wales’ strong public health message on smoking and also the ambitions for a smoke-free Wales by 2030.
ASH Wales has also written to Senedd Members to remind them of Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This requires governments to take measures to protect health policy “from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry”. It said the event organised by JTI puts these measures at risk.
Mr Griffiths said: “It is very disappointing and concerning that a Member of the Senedd, Darren Millar, is hosting an event for Japan Tobacco International.
“As chair of the cross-party group on smoking and health, I am greatly saddened and angered that the Senedd estate is being used for this purpose.
“We have seen lots of good work by our Welsh Government to create more smoke-free environments with the bold ambition of having a smoke-free Wales by 2030 – and this event undermines this and our strong public health efforts here in Wales.
“Smoking continues to take a terrible toll on our health in Wales. It is particularly damaging to families in our most deprived communities, where it is a major cause of premature death and disability.”
This is not the first time Welsh Conservative politicians have been criticised for links to JTI.
In 2011 and 2012 former Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns received two tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show worth more than £2,200 from the Japanese tobacco company.
At the same time he voted against a bill banning smoking in cars carrying children and vocally opposed plain packaging on cigarettes.
In response, a Welsh Conservative spokesman accused Mr Griffiths of a lack of research.
He said: “John Griffiths clearly hasn’t done his homework. Darren Millar has sponsored a number of events at the Senedd for JTI over the years which seek to highlight their efforts to support Welsh local authorities to tackle the illegal and counterfeit tobacco trade and the risks it poses to the public, including in John Griffiths’ Newport East constituency.
“The events have been attended by members from all political parties and do not promote smoking, as John would see for himself if he took the time to join.”