Monmouth MP, David Davies hits out at fags sent out by cancer charity

1:40pm Saturday 16th February 2013 in Gwent news Photograph of the Author By David Deans - Politics reporter

Monmouth MP hits out at cancer fags sent out by cancer charity Monmouth MP hits out at cancer fags sent out by cancer charity

A GWENT MP has hit out at a UK cancer charity after it sent MPs cigarettes.

As part of a lobbying campaign Cancer Research UK sent every British MP a cigarette packet to show the slick designs and colourful packaging that it claims children and young people find appealing.

But David Davies, MP for Monmouth, highlighted on Twitter that the charity also sent MPs two cigarettes.

He said he was a "bit surprised and slightly amused that anb anti-tobacco lobby is sending me cigarettes."

"It's ironic to say at the very least they are going out to buy packets to do this."

He said he'd prefer it if the charity was working in laboratories to find cures for cancer - however the charity said the campaign was paid for by a personal donation from a supporter wanting to back the charity's anti-tobacco campaign.

The charity says that two were left in each pack to show the cigarette itself is often branded, and wants the law changed so cigarettes packets are standardised with large warnings and no brand.

"We're urging the government to act now. They must make the right decision to protect children from tobacco marketing," the charity says on its blog.

Comments(8)

Ian MacKinlay says...
2:57pm Sat 16 Feb 13

I know politicians are out of touch with reality but to suggest that they are so bad as to not know what a packet of cigarettes looks like, including the branding on both packets and cigarettes, quite frankly means the charities are even more living on another planet than the politicians; and that is really saying something.

Report this post »

marma495 says...
3:44pm Sat 16 Feb 13

I,m sure 99% of the population would agree with Mr Davies that these organisations should be spending their time and money on trying to find a cure for cancer rather than meddling in politics.
Distasteful and demoralising.

Report this post »

chas says...
7:22pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Cancer organisations receive a lot of funding from pharmaceutical companies so are not so much concerned with the cause of cancers, but with cures provided by Big Pharma.

Report this post »

Michael Weedall says...
11:43pm Sat 16 Feb 13

David Davies used fags a youngster with his brother in the Jem park when he lived on Clifton Road with his father Peter Davies.

Report this post »

Michael Weedall says...
11:43pm Sat 16 Feb 13

David Davies used fags a youngster with his brother in the Jem park when he lived on Clifton Road with his father Peter Davies.

Report this post »

Katie Re-Registered says...
12:39pm Sun 17 Feb 13

"A GWENT MP has hit out at a UK cancer charity after it sent MPs cigarettes."

No wonder he's worried: Isn't that how the CIA planned to get rid of Castro?;)

Report this post »

mocyoung says...
5:30pm Sun 17 Feb 13

A Tory MP being disingenuous about a cancer charity's awareness campaign? How unsurprising.

Report this post »

Aquarius says...
10:17am Mon 18 Feb 13

Not so long ago, people were collecting for Macmillan Nurses outside a supermarket in Cwmbran for about a week. Fair play, they collected a decent sum too.

But some of *them* were smoking every chance they got - their choice of course, but I wonder how many people were suddenly dissuaded from giving money once they saw that?

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree