Jump to full article: The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday (uk), 2009-01-25
Author: Simon Walters
Intro: Fresh details of the way tobacco companies wooed Tory business spokesman Kenneth Clarke with perks including tickets to the opera, rugby and Formula 1 motor racing were disclosed last night.
Mr Clarke was heavily criticised by anti-smoking groups for being paid more than £1million in his ten years working for British American Tobacco while he was an MP.
He resigned as deputy chairman of BAT last year, widely seen as preparing the way for last week’s political comeback when David Cameron appointed him to the Shadow Cabinet.
But The Mail on Sunday can reveal he was offered generous perks from BAT and its main rival while he was a senior Minister in Conservative governments led by Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
Sir Patrick Sheehy, then chairman of BAT, invited Mr Clarke and his wife Gillian to
La Traviata at Glyndebourne and an England rugby international.
While Chancellor, Mr Clarke corresponded with Sir Patrick after the tobacco boss asked him to intervene to protect the firm’s commercial interests. Mr Clarke promised to curb ‘excessive cost and regulation’.
In addition, Philip Morris, makers of Marlboro cigarettes, a big Formula 1 sponsor which was fighting EU plans to outlaw tobacco advertising in the sport, invited Mr Clarke to the British Grand Prix. . . .
The new information comes from documents collected by the University of California from US law suits against tobacco companies. . . .
In 1989, Mr Clarke, by now Health Secretary, resisted moves to include ‘smoking kills’ warnings on cigarette packets. In the same period, BAT’s rival, Philip Morris, also offered to entertain Mr Clarke. . . .
Labour MP Kevin Barron last night called on Mr Clarke to explain his ‘cosy relationship’ with tobacco firms.
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