Policy U-Turns. EU condemns U-turn on Grand Prix tobacco advertising (5th November 1997).The move was condemned as an "extraordinary U-turn" by the Tories and prompted a warning from the Commission that unilateral action by Britain would prejudice a Europe-wide attempt to outlaw tobacco advertising. The Government was accused of caving in to pressure from the tobacco and motor-racing industries after lifting its threat to prevent the promotion of cigarette brands at Grand Prix events. Anti-smoking campaigners expressed disappointment at the climbdown, while representatives of the tobacco manufacturers immediately demanded an extension of the exemption to cover other sponsored sports such as snooker, rugby league and fishing. The shift represented a setback for Frank Dobson, the Health Secretary, who unveiled radical proposals to outlaw tobacco sponsorship without exception shortly after the general election. The Government has already delayed its proposed White Paper on action to curb smoking, originally promised this month but now postponed until the New Year in anticipation of legislation later in the Parliament. Downing Street confirmed yesterday that the draft Bill would allow other sports sponsors three years' grace for existing contracts to run their course, effectively putting off the start of a domestic ban until after the next general election. The special treatment for Formula One took other European countries by surprise ahead of a meeting of health ministers in Luxembourg on Dec 4 to agree a new EU directive banning tobacco advertising. Padraig Flynn, the social affairs commissioner, dismissed British fears that Grand Prix racing would be driven out of Europe. "If there were no tobacco advertising on racing cars, other sponsors would soon come forward," his spokesman said in Brussels. "This decision could mean the Commission withdrawing the whole directive." Clive Bates, director of Action on Smoking and Health, said: "We are very depressed indeed. Formula One is central to the tobacco industry because it has a great appeal to teenagers: it is glamorous, has heroic drivers and fast cars." Dr Sandy Macara, chairman of the British Medical Association, said ministers had given in to "blackmail" from tobacco manufacturers and racing organisers. Blair abandons farm reforms
(8th January 1998) Launching Britain's six months at the helm of the EU, Mr Blair ommitted any mention of the need to overhaul the farm scheme - a key commitment of Labour's election manifesto. The exclusion of CAP reform from a list of British priorities contrasted sharply with numerous statements last year from Mr Blair and Labour ministers. The EU farm policy, widely regarded as inefficient, absorbs nearly half of the EU's £60 billion-a-year budget. In the Queen's Speech debate in May, John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, reaffirmed that reform of the CAP was a "key priority". Mr Blair, in his Lord Mayor's Banquet Speech in November, said Labour would "change Europe where it needs changing" - and put reform of the CAP at the head of a list of changes.
Government turns chicken on the fox-hunting bill (2nd March 1998). Tony Blair signalled that the Government was backing away from assisting early legislation to ban foxhunting after Sunday's Countryside March in London. Downing Street indicated that the Government would not intervene if, as expected, the current Private Member's Bill to outlaw foxhunting fails to get through Parliament. The Government has already indicated that it will not provide time for the Private Member's Bill to outlaw hunting with hounds, introduced by Mike Foster, a Labour backbencher. The Bill is due to return to the floor of the Commons on Friday, but is widely expected to be blocked by MPs. The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "We don't necessarily see it as a priority for the future legislative programme."
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