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** 12 September 2025
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UK


** JTI sponsorship of Reform UK conference raises concerns over Russian business links (#1)
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** Most vapers switching to pod kits, not cigarettes, after disposable ban (#2)
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** NHSE mental health director resigns citing political disengagement and funding concerns (#3)
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International


** Tanzania announces reforms to modernise tobacco farming (#4)
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Links of the week


** ASH blog: How Different Voters View Public Health Policies (#5)
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** ASH blog: Why we need a new ambitious smokefree goal (#6)
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** ASH looking for next Chair of Trustees (#7)
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UK


** JTI sponsorship of Reform UK conference raises concerns over Russian business links

Japan Tobacco International (JTI), which maintains substantial operations in Russia, was a sponsor at Reform UK’s recent party conference, prompting scrutiny over the party's choice of corporate partners.

JTI, which retains nearly 35% of Russia’s tobacco market and runs multiple factories there, has been designated an “international sponsor of war” by a Ukrainian government agency due to its continued business activity amid the conflict. Despite pledging to suspend new investment in 2022, the company continues to operate in Russia and describes itself as the market leader.

Another sponsor, crypto platform Zebec, is also under fire for its opaque ownership structure, which may breach UK transparency laws.

Source: The Observer, 8 September 2025
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** Most vapers switching to pod kits, not cigarettes, after disposable ban

Survey results from vape retailer Ninja Vapes suggest that most former disposable vape users in the UK are opting for prefilled pod kits rather than returning to smoking, three months after the ban on single-use vapes came into effect.

Despite earlier warnings that the ban could push some users back to tobacco, nearly 90 per cent of respondents in a poll by Ninja Vapes said they had not considered going back to cigarettes. Users also reported satisfaction with pod kits, citing better value and longer performance, while spending habits and purchasing patterns have adjusted to reflect the switch.

Source: Asian Trader, 11 September 2025

Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments. The survey’s methodology and sample size were not provided, limiting the ability to assess the robustness of the findings.
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** NHSE mental health director resigns citing political disengagement and funding concerns

Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national director for mental health for nine years, has resigned with immediate effect, citing a lack of engagement from political leaders.

In her resignation letter, Murdoch also highlighted ongoing reductions in mental health funding and stated that it was critical that its share of NHS funding is maintained. She also noted insufficient progress in addressing inequalities and premature mortality among people with serious mental illness.

The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledge the shortfall in mental health outcomes despite increased funding.

Source: Health Service Journal, 11 September 2025
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International


** Tanzania announces reforms to modernise tobacco farming

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has put forward plans to modernise tobacco farming in Tanzania’s Tabora region by promoting eco-friendly curing methods, improved infrastructure, and enhanced services. Speaking at a rally in Urambo District, the President stated that tobacco production in the area had more than doubled between the 2021/22 and 2024/25 seasons, with corresponding increases in export revenue.

Concern over environmental damage, particularly deforestation caused by tobacco curing, prompted the President to pledge adoption of sustainable technologies. Additional promises include building new agricultural markets, improving roads, expanding irrigation, upgrading water, health, and education services, and introducing subsidised machinery to boost farmers’ productivity.

Source: The Citizen, 12 September 2025

Editorial note: While governments and industry often present tobacco farming as a pathway to economic prosperity, research consistently shows that smallholder farmers typically earn less from tobacco than from alternative crops. Tobacco is also highly labour-intensive, often relying on unpaid family labour, and many farmers remain dependent on volatile prices and company-controlled supply chains.

See also: Tobacco Tactics - Tobacco Farming ([link removed])
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Links of the week


** ASH blog: How Different Voters View Public Health Policies

This blog reports findings from a nationwide survey by Public First (commissioned by ASH, the Alcohol Health Alliance, and the Obesity Health Alliance) that gauged public attitudes to health interventions relating to tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food. It found that there is widespread backing across Conservative, Labour, and Reform voters for practical public health policies - for example, tighter regulation of food marketing and higher tobacco taxes.

See also: ASH’s joint briefings with IPPR discuss how different voter groups think about different public health policies, based on polling by Public First:

What do Labour Voters Think About Public Health? ([link removed]) | What do Conservative Voters Think About Public Health? ([link removed]) | What do Reform Voters Think About Public Health? ([link removed])

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** ASH blog: Why we need a new ambitious smokefree goal

In this blog, ASH Chief Executive Hazel Cheeseman and Jamie Brown, Professor of Behavioural Science and Health and Director of the UCL Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group explain the rationale for a revised smokefree target of reducing smoking prevalence to 6.7% by 2030.
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** ASH looking for next Chair of Trustees

ASH is looking for a passionate, strategic, and politically astute leader to chair our Board of Trustees. This role offers a unique opportunity to guide our mission to eliminate the harms of smoking, influence policymaking, and inspire meaningful change across the UK public health landscape.

This is your chance to help shape ASH’s future and amplify our impact.
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For more information email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.ash.org.uk
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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