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• Clarke's evidence on BAT to be investigated for 'contradictions' 

The chairman of the Commons health committee is to investigate allegations that Kenneth Clarke gave false evidence to parliament about the activities of his company British American Tobacco.

Kevin Barron, Labour chairman of the health committee, said he would consult with David Hinchliffe, who was chairman in February 2000 when the Conservative leadership contender testified, denying claims that BAT was involved in international cigarette smuggling. Mr Barron said: "I shall be asking to study the record of the evidence Mr Clarke gave at the time, to see if there are any contradictions."

The Guardian disclosed yesterday that a letter written by BAT's lawyers admitted that certain allegations of BAT's involvement in smuggling were true. But five days after the letter was written, Mr Clarke, who is deputy chairman of BAT, denied the charges to MPs, describing them as "unfounded" and "nonsense".

Yesterday at Blackpool he sought to brush off the allegations. Addressing a packed lunchtime meeting, Mr Clarke likened himself to the man in the Hamlet cigar commercial. "When I am accused of heinous crimes I just light up a cigar ... It does save me from stress. I do not suffer from stress."

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