MPs are being urged to stop accepting freebies from tobacco, alcohol and junk food companies at sporting and cultural events because their products cause so much illness and death.
More than 100 health organisations are urging UK lawmakers to ban gifts and hospitality from the ‘unhealthy food industry’, which uses a range of underhanded tactics to disguise the harm it causes and protect its sales.
A coalition of leading medical associations, health organisations and children’s charities are challenging Keir Starmer to honour his promise to restore the integrity of public life by banning such companies from lobbying MPs by giving them gifts that could expose them to conflicts of interest.
The Prime Minister made clear this week that he is prepared to take strong action to tackle Britain’s growing sick population and help the NHS by confirming that he may severely restrict the ability for people to smoke outside, such as pubs and restaurants, and on pavements.
Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, Chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), said: “Alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy diets are the three biggest killers in our society, with alcohol alone claiming 10,000 lives in 2022 – the worst ever.
“MPs are expected to make decisions based on the best interests of their constituents, but we know that lobbying tactics such as receiving gifts and benefits from these industries can create a conflict of interest and compromise impartiality.”
The AHA, the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) and Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) have published a new joint report exposing the “killer tactics” the three sectors are using to gain influence over politicians and thwart measures that aim to improve public health by cracking down on smoking, drinking and poor diet.
They claim that tactics to “cultivate allies” include downplaying the harm their products cause, using legal threats to delay policies aimed at reducing that harm – such as plain packaging for cigarettes and minimum prices for alcohol – distorting scientific evidence, using front groups to advance arguments useful to them, and giving gifts, benefits and hospitality to members of parliament.
“While MPs may in many cases feel there is no harm in accepting a ticket to a sporting event or giving a concert ticket to a member of staff, there is no such thing as a free lunch,” the report said.
“Companies spend money because they believe it is in their financial interest. (But) it can create the appearance of a conflict of interest for MPs who are changing and voting on legislation that will affect these companies.” MPs must declare gifts worth more than £300 to promote transparency.
The more than 100 groups behind the report include the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, health organisations such as Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation, and public health specialists such as the Faculty of Public Health.
In August 2022, then Conservative MP Thérèse Coffey declared in the MPs’ register of interests that she had accepted a ticket and hospitality at Lord’s cricket ground in London worth £922.80 from pub and beer group Greene King. Coffey, a long-standing opponent of “nanny state” policies, became Health Secretary in Liz Truss’ short-lived government three weeks later and opposed several proposals to improve public health during her time in office.
Earlier this year, Giles Watling, the then Tory MP for Clacton, announced £351.02 worth of hospitality from Japanese Tobacco International. In May, he tabled amendments to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, proposing that the proposed ban on buying cigarettes should only apply to under-21s, not anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
In an unusual political intervention, the Budweiser Brewing Group paid £9,000 to sponsor a fundraising event for Labour candidates for the general election, including four who won on July 4: Sarah Hall, Jo Platt, Elsie Blundell and Kirith Entwistle, documents show.
The event was organised and sponsored by Arden Strategies, a lobbying firm run by former Labour minister Jim Murphy. Also in attendance was Lucy Powell, now Speaker of the House of Commons, responsible for the conduct of MPs.
Powell declined to comment on her attendance at the Budweiser-sponsored event, nor would she comment on the health organizations’ proposals.
Diageo, which makes drinks such as Johnnie Walker, has organised dinners for MPs, including whisky tastings, while Heineken paid for tickets and hospitality for Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine and former Tory MP James Daly to attend a Six Nations rugby match.
KFC has invited Labour MPs and councillors to sample some of its “delicious, healthy” dishes – including salad boxes, twister wraps and rice boxes – at one of its Liverpool restaurants during Labour’s annual conference there next month. Those who attend will have the chance to chat to the fast food company’s nutritionist about how it is making its products healthier.
Health Minister Wes Streeting has criticised KFC for taking legal action against 45 local councils over plans to limit the number of fast food restaurants opening in their areas.
Katharine Jenner, OHA director, said the failure of successive governments to tackle the prevalence of unhealthy eating and drinking and thus address the growing crisis of dangerously overweight people has contributed to a rise in obesity, heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
The OHA, AHA and Ash also claim that a “loophole in the law” allows MPs to accept gifts worth less than £300 – such as chocolates and gifts for site visits – and that “unhealthy food industries” are sponsoring events in parliament. YouGov polling shows that large majorities of voters want the government to be protected from the influence of the tobacco (78%), alcohol (71%) and food and drink (71%) industries when formulating health policy.
The Food and Drink Federation and alcohol trade body Portman Group declined to comment.