UK accused of 'hypocrisy' in tobacco control in Bangladesh, other countries

British newspaper The Guardian has released an investigative report accusing the British government of 'hypocrisy' in overseas tobacco control including Bangladesh.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 Jan 2018, 06:45 PM
Updated : 28 Jan 2018, 07:41 PM

“The word hypocrisy hardly does it justice. We are saving lives at home and promoting death abroad,” the report said, quoting Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the health charity Ash (Action on Smoking and Health).

“The government has publicly committed support to help poorer countries to follow our example. But behind the scenes our embassies are still helping UK-based tobacco manufacturers to promote their lethal business and to resist government regulation," she added.

According to the Jan 27 report, in the past four years UK Foreign Office (FO) and Department for International Trade (DIT) staff met British American Tobacco nine times to discuss a long-running tax dispute with the Bangladesh government.

They are doing almost the 'similar things' in other countries including Hungary, Venezuela, and Laos.

The released information raises questions about the government’s approach to tobacco control.

The UK has invested £15m in funding the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which promotes raising taxes on cigarettes in low- and middle-income countries that are now targeted by big tobacco because smoking rates are declining in developed states.

“Britain is a world leader in implementing tough and effective measures to regulate and control the tobacco industry, and as a result, our smoking rates have plummeted,” Arnott told the Guardian.

Earlier in September, the newspaper exposed deployment of British High Commissioner in Bangladesh, Alison Blake, in the BATB tax dodging issue worth Tk 1.924 trillion.

A spokesperson of the British High Commission in Dhaka then told bdnews24.com that: “It is entirely appropriate that the UK government supports British businesses overseas.”

“Our actions were in line with guidelines and the letter in question highlighted the original legal opinion that there was no legal basis for retrospective VAT.”

The Guardian said the embassies’ approach is consistent with a 2011 coalition government strategy that pushed for them to do more to promote UK business interests abroad.

“With Brexit opening up the possibility of new trade deals, health campaigners believe that embassy staff may come under pressure to do more to help promote the tobacco industry – which makes billions for the exchequer.”

However, a Foreign Office spokesman told the Guardian it took its obligations to protect public health policies about tobacco very seriously.

“Interactions with the tobacco industry are only permitted where necessary, and we do not allow our staff to encourage investment in the tobacco industry, or provide any assistance in helping tobacco companies influence local business policies like taxation to their advantage.”