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Kwarteng IEA fringe event hints at how deeply thinktank is embedded in No 10
Guardian investigative reporter, Henry Dyer, has published an analysis of the Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng’s relationship with the Institute of Economic Affairs ahead of his fringe speech yesterday afternoon:
Kwasi Kwarteng’s longest public appearance at the Conservative party conference was not on the main stage, where he spoke for 20 minutes on Monday, but at a fringe event hosted by two thinktanks on Tuesday afternoon.
For an hour, the “person responsible for the UK’s economic future”, as the event bills it, outlined his vision in a conversation with the TaxPayers’ Alliance and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). It was longer than his 25-minute “mini-budget” speech and his “quarter of an hour – or maybe a bit longer” meeting with party donors after the mini-budget.
Mark Littlewood, the director general of the IEA, will be one of Kwarteng’s interviewers, speaking to the man responsible for implementing “Trussonomics”. The IEA has faced criticism over a lack of transparency over its donors, and a 2019 Guardian investigation found it had historically issued publications arguing climate change is either not significantly driven by human activity or will be positive.
Littlewood has known Truss for more than 25 years since they met at Oxford, members of the Oxford Reform Club. In 2011, Truss set up the Free Enterprise Group of Tory MPs with the help of Ruth Porter, the IEA’s then communications director, Littlewood, and the IEA.
By 2012, Kwarteng chaired the Free Enterprise Group. As well as writing Britannia Unchained with Truss, Dominic Raab, Priti Patel and Chris Skidmore, Kwarteng edited A Time For Choosing in 2015 with the IEA’s then head of public policy, Ryan Bourne.
Source: The Guardian, 4 October 2022
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“Country in collective denial over harmful effects of alcohol”
Alcohol is a “part of the fabric of daily life in Scotland”, the Alcohol Action Group has claimed.
The group recently carried out surveys with people and families personally harmed by alcohol, looking at the presence and visibility of products in their homes, communities and online spaces.
Established by Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (SFAD), the Alcohol Action Group found “constant exposure” to alcohol, and that it is “all around” as “part of the fabric of daily life” in the country.
One group member said: “I know people talk about having freedom of choice, but the advertising of alcohol is so ‘in your face’ that anyone who has alcohol problems or is in recovery never gets a break from seeing this constant push for everyone to drink alcohol.”
The Alcohol Action Group wants to use these research findings to change the way alcohol is labelled, marketed, advertised and sold, and to create more alcohol-free spaces for families to enjoy.
Source: STV News, 5 October 2022
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Study: Smoking increases the risk of illness and viral infection
A new study led by UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Centre shows that current smokers have a 12% increased risk of a laboratory-confirmed viral infection and a 48% increased risk of being diagnosed with respiratory illnesses. These results did not vary by type of virus, including a coronavirus.
In combination with past findings, the current findings published yesterday in the Nicotine and Tobacco Research journal, support urgent recommendations to increase tobacco control efforts for countering COVID-19.
"Past research has shown that smoking increases the risk of COVID-19 disease severity, but the risk of infection had been less clear," said UC Davis tobacco researcher and lead author of the study Melanie Dove. "Our study findings show smokers have an increased risk of viral infection, including a coronavirus and respiratory illness."
Source: Medical Xpress, 4 October 2022
See also: Nicotine & Tobacco Research - Coronavirus Infection and Illness in a Highly Controlled Challenge Study: A Re-analysis of the British Cold Study
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Ireland: Alcohol industry body offering teachers training about drinking despite health department advice
Secondary school teachers are being offered training in how to lead classroom lessons about alcohol by Drinkaware Ireland, an organisation that is funded by the alcohol industry, distilleries, and breweries.
Addiction experts and advocates say that Drinkaware is working with schools against the advice of the HSE and the Department of Health.
Drinkaware, with funders including Diageo, Bulmers Ireland, and Heineken, confirmed that, to date, 15,000 first-year to third-year students have gone through its schools programme.
Schools should be a no-go area for the alcohol industry, according to Alcohol Forum Ireland national lead for community, Paula Leonard.
“We wouldn’t let the tobacco industry in the door of our schools to teach our children how to smoke sensibly,” said Ms Leonard.
“It would be socially unacceptable, it would be unacceptable to the Minister for Education, it would be unacceptable to parents, because we now have a population awareness of the strategies of the tobacco industry.”
Source: Irish Examiner, 2 October 2022
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Philip Morris expects EU nod on $16 bln Swedish Match bid in late October
Philip Morris International expects EU antitrust approval for its $16 billion bid for tobacco and nicotine products maker Swedish Match in late October, the company said on Tuesday.
Marlboro-maker Philip Morris announced its cash offer for the Stockholm-based group at 106 crowns per share in May, seeking to expand in the fast-growing market for cigarette alternatives.
"PMHH's current assessment is that the process with the European Commission will instead be completed late October 2022," Philip Morris said in a statement, as it extended the acceptance period for its offer to Swedish Match shareholders to 4 November.
The Commission declined to comment.
Source: Daily Mail, 4 October 2022
See also: Tobacco Tactics - Swedish Match
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