July 7th, 2013:

23 May 2013 http://www.tobaccotactics.org/index.php/The_Common_Sense_Alliance

More updates on The Common Sense Alliance – involvement of Ogilvy & Mather:

· A profile on Rory Sutherland, the executive creative director of OgilvyOne London and the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather UK. Since August 2012, he is also the director of The Common Sense Alliance, listed as one of the founding members of this lobby group supported by British American Tobacco (BAT).

· Advertising giant Ogilvy & Mather has a well documented history of working with Big Tobacco: PR for the Tobacco Institute, a front group of the industry, and Influencing Science by creating doubt about second hand smoke in the 1980s. Today BAT is still one of their largest clients.

The Common Sense Alliance

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Screengrab of the Common Sense Alliance ‘Issues’ webpage (March 2013)

The Common Sense Alliance is a group that describes itself as a “growing community who question excessive regulation that lacks evidence and has not been fully thought through…” On their website homepage they claim that they are not a political group. Nevertheless their main activities show that they act as a lobby group. The Alliance asks readers to support common sense and sign up against:

· standardised packaging for tobacco,

· the late night levy on businesses selling alcohol between 12am and 6am,

· taxes on fatty foods and nutrition labelling.

They also urge supporters to contact their local MPs with these views and provide a link to the ‘Write to them’ webpage. Their tagline is “Common Sense, not Nonsense”.

The Common Sense Alliance was founded in August 2012, at the time the European Union was discussion the Tobacco Products Directive and the UK was preparing for the consultation on Plain Packaging.

The Common Sense Alliance has a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a YouTube channel.

Contents [hide] 1 Supported by British American Tobacco 2 Against Plain Packaging 3 Founding Members 4 Industry Responses to the UK Plain Packaging Consultation 2012 5 ‘Evidence’ presented to the House of Lords – No Mention of the Alliance 6 “Plain Packaging Lobbyists Under Fire Over Links to Tobacco Company” 7 Notes

Supported by British American Tobacco

The Common Sense Alliance is provided with ‘support’ from British American Tobacco (BAT). The tobacco company is one of the five main supporters of the Alliance listed on the Alliance’s homepage. It is unknown whether this ‘support’ is financial.

The website domain was registered by Basil Dutchak, who worked for Rothman’s tobacco company for 30 years and BAT for a further year before founding his own business B&K Associates Ltd in 2003. On his LinkedIn profile, Dutchak states that B&K Associates consists of “a team of sales experts who have been trained to the highest standard, primarily in the tobacco industry, who can deliver sales objectives particularly where new brands require additional support in early development.”^[1] Dutchak retained a working relationship with BAT. Speaking of Dutchak in 2010, BAT National Sales Manager Andy de Caso said:

Basil has a unique and affective style in developing/delivering both coaching and training modules. As importantly the delivery of his courses are tailored to the clients’ requirements. He keeps abreast of real trends within the market place that influence consumers’ decisions and utilises these when training and coaching. B&K have played a key role in the development of first line managers and coaches and both performance and people measures have been improved (significantly in some areas) as a result of his involvement with my company.^[2]

In addition to BAT, The Common Sense Alliance is also supported by:

· Great Heck Brewing Co LTd – an independent alcohol brewing company,

· Flaming Frog Design – a web design company that designed the webpage for the tobacco industry front group, the Tobacco Retailers Alliance. Furthermore, one of Flaming Frog’s partners, Madz Widen also known as Meg, previously worked as a Financial Executive of BAT in Sweden.^[3]

· MSR Newsgroup Ltd – a Nottingham newsagent chain, and

· the Live Management Group (LMG) who organise live music events and festivals. The LMG are partnered with a company called MAMA Brand Partnerships that specialise in branding live music events, venues and festivals; most often alcohol branding. Rizla, an Imperial Tobacco owned cigarette rolling paper is one of the many brands that MAMA Brand Partnerships has promoted at live music events.

Against Plain Packaging

The Common Sense Alliance is against the plain packaging of tobacco products, they argue that:

· It will increase illicit trade as packets are less easily identified as genuine or illicit

· The economy will suffer from revenue lost to illegal tobacco product sales

· Once there is plain packaging for tobacco where will the government go next (slippery slope argument)

· Excessive regulation should be replaced with education for young people

• See the public health counter arguments to The Common Sense Alliance’s and indeed the tobacco industry’s view points against plain packaging.

Founding Members

The Common Sense Alliance website (Under the header ‘Supporters’) lists its founding members along with their credentials.

· Peter Sheridan – Former Assistant Chief Constable and Head of Organised Crime and Murder Investigation

· Roy Ramm – Former Commander of Specialist Operations at New Scotland Yard

· Rory Sutherland – Former President of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising

· Mick Garton – Managing Director of MSR News Group

· Kami Kundi – Justice of the Peace, Regional Director of the National Asian Business Association

· Dr Jules Goddard – Research Fellow at London Business School

· Nash Gooderham – Chief Executive Officer of Live Management Group

· Madz/Meg Wilden – Owner of Flaming Frog Design

· Denzil Vallance – Great Heck Brewery Limited

· Paul Jones – LS West Midlands

· Shaun Simmons – G Simmons & Sons

Two of the founding members are ex-cops with an impressive career in policing. As detailed at their own pages, both Peter Sheridan and Roy Ramm are experienced witness experts. They have both appeared before a Select Committee in Parliament to discuss the issue of tobacco smuggling in their police capacity. Both are now using the smuggling argument and the alleged risk of an increase in their lobby against plain packaging, in articles in the media and in Parliament – as is detailed below. Both use their credentials as former police officers to make their point, while failing to mention their involvement in the Common Sense Alliance and their links to the tobacco industry.

Sutherland is described by The Common Sense Alliance as the Former President of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising. The Alliance’s website does not mention that he is the current Vice Chairman of The Ogilvy Group UK. The Group is part of Ogilvy & Mather, a global advertising and public relations company which has British American Tobacco as one of its largest clients worldwide. The fact that BAT is a client is not easy to find at the websites of Ogilvy & Mather or the Ogilvy Group, but on LinkedIn people specify their job with the Ogilvy Group UK as working specifically on the BAT account.^[4]

Furthermore, Ogilvy has a long history of working with the Tobacco Industry, for more information see the Ogilvy Group page.

Rory Sutherland is a self-proclaimed libertarian and a fan of smoking, standing up for ‘the right to light up’. He also is a proponent of branding and as such opposed to plain packaging; more detail at the Sutherland page.

Industry Responses to the UK Plain Packaging Consultation 2012

Two of the founding members of the Alliance, Peter Sheridan and Roy Ramm, are cited as expert witnesses by tobacco companies in their submissions to the UK Consultation on Standardised Packaging (Sheridan by BAT and Ramm by PMI).

Furthermore, the plain packaging views of both Ramm and Sheridan have been quoted by the media,^[5] by anti-plain packaging campaigns such as Hands Off Our Packs^[6] and in personally penned pieces in both the Huffington Post and The Daily Mail :

· Sheridan guest column piece for the Daily Mail, 22 June 2012

· Ramm in the Huffington Post: Government plans for plain packaging will boost illicit trade

· Sheridan in the Huffington Post:Plain Packaging Will Create a Fertile Ground for Tobacco Smuggling

, 3 December 2012

On 9th August 2012, Peter Sheridan was listed as the Director of the BAT supported Common Sense Alliance. However in publications regarding plain packaging only his credentials as former police officer are mentioned.

‘Evidence’ presented to the House of Lords – No Mention of the Alliance

Roy Ramm letter discussed in the House of Lords, 13 March 2013

On 13th March 2013, Anna Soubry, Public Health Secretary, and Andrew Black, Tobacco Programme Manager at the Department of Health were asked to attend an inquiry on the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) held by the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on Home Affairs, Health and Education.

The sub-committee are “responsible for scrutinising health legislation”.^[7]

The Lords in attendance were Lord Hannay of Chiswick (Chairman), Lord Avebury, Lord Blencathra, Viscount Bridgeman, Lord Richard and Lord Sharkey.^[7]

During the session, Lord Blencathra refers to evidence provided in a letter by Roy Ramm (joint authored with Peter Sheridan), “who is former commander of Scotland Yard’s SOCA”. Lord Blencathra describes that the evidence that they have received from Ramm suggests that plain packaging would:

· “…give a huge boost to the counterfeit trade and that a lot of that money would go into criminal organisations, including some terrorist organisations.”

· “…give a huge boost to the counterfeit trade across Europe..” as “any kid could reproduce plain packaging on his laptop computer and a cheap printer.”

And that:

· “The tobacco manufacturers and the companies state that he best way…to prevent counterfeiting is to constantly change sophisticated packaging…”

Asked whether she accepted any of these arguments, Public Health Secretary Soubry, stated “I am afraid that I do not.” Soubry goes on to explain to the sub-committee why this is the case. (See image for an extract of the transcript.)

Later in the hearing, Viscount Bridgeman asked some questions on illicit trade based on a meeting he had with Peter Sheridan. Viscount Bridgeman asked whether counterfeit packaging would be harder to detect. Soubry responded that the term ‘plain packaging’ was misleading and that ‘standardised packaging’ would still include sophisticated security holograms.

The Lords asked that the Minister respond to the letter by Ramm and Sheridan, addressing the points made and sending a copy of any response to the Sub-Committee. Despite the high level of influence both Ramm and Sheridan achieved in this hearing, there is no mention of eithers involvement with The Common Sense Alliance. The letter in question, received upon request from the Sub-Committee was written in February 2013 by Ramm and Sheridan. It states that plain packaging would increase illicit trade and fund terrorist organisations. Once again their relationship with The Common Sense Alliance, and therefore BAT, was not disclosed.

Ramm and Sheridan letter discussed in the House of Lords, 13 March 2013

“Plain Packaging Lobbyists Under Fire Over Links to Tobacco Company”

The Common Sense Alliance was the subject of a national press story in the Observer on Sunday on the 28th April 2013: “Former police officers who gave evidence to Lords on upcoming legislation worked for Common Sense Alliance, funded by BAT”^[8]

Notes

1. ↑ Basil Dutchak, Basil Dutchak, Owner B&K Associates, LinkedIn, accessed April 2013
2. ↑ Andy de Caso, Andy de Caso, Sales Director at SKYCIG UK, LinkedIn, accessed April 2013
3. ↑ Madz Widen, Madz Widen, LinkedIn, accessed April 2013
4. ↑ See for instance: LinkedIn, David Fox, accessed April 2013
5. ↑ Steven Alexander, Plain pack cigarettes a ‘smuggler’s charter’, Belfast Telegraph, 26 September 2012, accessed April 2013
6. ↑ Angela Harbutt, Anti-tobacco activists protest too much, Hands Off Our Packs Campaign Blog, 2 October 2012, accessed April 2013
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} House of Lords, Unrevised transcript of evidence taken before The Select Committee on the European Union Home Affairs, Health and Education Committee, Inquiry on Tobacco Products Directive, 13 March 2013, accessed April 2013
8. ↑ Plain Packaging Lobbyists Under Fire Over Links to Tobacco Company, the Guardian, 28 April 2013, accessed May 2013

http://www.tobaccotactics.org/index.php/Tobacco_Retailers’_Alliance

Tobacco Retailers’ Alliance

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The Tobacco Retailers’ Alliance (TRA) is a tobacco industry funded campaign group, representing UK independent retailers selling tobacco. Until May 2008, it was known as the Tobacco Alliance (TA).

The TRA’s website says it is a “coalition of 26,000 independent shopkeepers who all sell tobacco products” and adds that it is “funded by the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association which means we can offer a free membership to all independent retailers who sell tobacco. We campaign on issues of relevance to both their businesses and to the industry”.^[1] In the financial year 2000/1 the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) budgeted to spend £180,000 on the group, but forecast that the actual spend would be £190,000.^[2]

TRA has been represented by the public relations (PR) companies PR21 and its sister company Edelman.^[3]

Contents 1 History: ‘How to set up a Tobacco Alliance’ 2 Current Policy Positions and Campaigning 2.1 Against a Tobacco Retail Display Ban in Shops 2.2 >>Save Our Shops – Lobby Campaign Funded by the Industry 2.3 Against Plain Packaging 2.3.1 >> No To Plain Packs – Lobby Campaign Funded by the Industry 2.4 Against Tobacco Smuggling 3 Direct Lobbying Activities 3.1 Liberal Democrats 3.2 Labour 3.3 Conservatives 3.4 Scottish National Party 3.4.1 MP: Conflict of Interests? 4 Public Relations Strategies in 2000 4.1 ‘Reposition TA as an originator of research’ 4.2 ‘Change TA’s name’ 4.3 ‘Gather intelligence and have instant rebuttal’ 4.4 ‘Rebut manufacturers’ complicity 5 Notes

History: ‘How to set up a Tobacco Alliance’

In 1983, a TA employee, Tony St Aubyn, the then assistant director of the Public Relations subcommittee of the Tobacco Advisory Council, gave a presentation to a public relations workshop in Washington called ‘How to set up a Tobacco Alliance’. He explained that UK tobacco companies saw it as part of their “total communications package”, with the TA being ” born as a communications network for all those who work in the industry, for the industry or whose livelihoods depend upon it”. There was an emphasis on encouraging others to campaign for their ‘rights’ and ‘freedom’, and one of the TA’s aims was “to help put forward the case for individual freedom to counter any moves that might further restrict the right of individuals to enjoy smoking”.^[4]

Furthermore, tobacco manufacturers wanted to present the Alliance as independent from cigarette companies:

Early on we decided that it would be preferable to keep the Alliance at arms length from TAC and the industry and with its own identity and address, to emphasize to supporters, as far as is practical, that it had a degree of independence. Thus while the industry determines policy and provides the funds, the day to day management is the responsibility of our PR agents Daniel J Edelman. (TAC is the Tobacco Advisory Council, the predecessor to the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association)

The TA presentation also highlighted “the concept of Alliance ‘supporters’ rather than ‘members’ which would have required their blanket agreement on policies and views. Such agreement would have been virtually impossible in view of the diversity of the various groups”.^[4]

When the Tobacco Alliance (which later became the TRA) was established the industry stated that it “would encourage its supporters to act either as individuals or as representatives of their own organisations” in order to appear as a separate entity to the industry. It was also “stressed that the Alliance was needed because in order to be heard the entire tobacco family must speak with a unified voice and with confident command of the facts…”^[4]

Current Policy Positions and Campaigning

Against a Tobacco Retail Display Ban in Shops

The TRA is opposed to a ban on retail displays of tobacco in shops. Its spokesman Ken Patel says: “This measure will placed [sic] a terrible burden on small businesses like mine, and there is no evidence to suggest it would have any positive impact on youth smoking rates.”^[5]

>>Save Our Shops – Lobby Campaign Funded by the Industry

TRA launched ‘Save Our Shops’, an initiative where the Tobacco Retailers Alliance would provide shops with materials to run their own campaign in-store, and get customers to demonstrate their support. Custumors could sign postcards which retailers would send on to their local MP, demonstrating that the public was against a display ban.

The campaign was a succes. MPs got hundreds of postcards bearing the Save Our Shop campaign logo, urging them not to back the government’s proposals. The cards stated: ‘As my local MP, I hope you will protect our independent local shops by opposing this proposal.’ More than 100 MPs signed an early-day motion in Parliament agreeing with the proposal that any plan to sell cigarettes under the counter should be firmly ‘evidenced-based’, a key message pushed by the Save Our Shop campaign. In December 2008, however, the Guardian exposed ‘Save Our Shops’ as a dirty trick campaign. MPs expressed dismay that the campaign had been orchestrated and funded by the tobacco companies, the paper wrote^[6]

[M]any MPs had been unaware the campaign was the brainchild of the Tobacco Retailers’ Association (TRA), an offshoot of the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association, which represents the interests of three tobacco companies: BAT, Gallaher and Imperial Tobacco.

The Save Our Shop campaign did little to make its links with the tobacco lobby apparent and its postcards bore no reference to the connection between it and the cigarette manufacturers. The TRA, which also spoke out against the proposals, did not publicise its links with the manufacturers’ body, although the latter’s website carries a small reference to the connection between the two organisations.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of anti-smoking group Ash, accused the tobacco lobby of ‘hiding behind the cloak of retailer respectability.’

Against Plain Packaging

According to the TRA, “Traders are concerned that a ban on branding will make life tougher for shopkeepers who sell tobacco without doing anything to reduce smoking rates.”^[5]

>> No To Plain Packs – Lobby Campaign Funded by the Industry

In May 2012 the TRA launched the ‘plain packaging postcard campaign’ in response to the UK Department of Health’s consultation on standardised packaging. The campaign’s objective was to distribute ‘no to plain packs’ postcards to retailers who are then encouraged to send them to the Department of Health. TRA spokesperson John Abbott said that “it’s really important that independent retailers air their views on plain packaging through this consultation”, arguing that^[7]:

When we are serving customers, it will take much longer to find the product a customer wants if they are all in plain packs and look similar.

Customers may also focus more on price if plain packaging is introduced and this will affect the turnover of retailers.

The TRA offered members arguments against plain packaging and also advise on how to respond to the consultation at its websites, and included the organisation’s own submission to the website.^[8]

Throughout the duration of the consultation, retail magazines such as the Grocer and Retail Newsagent consistently featured opposition messages to plain packaging and advertised the TRA plain packaging postcard campaign.

In July 2012, the TRA reported that 30,000 retailers had so far signed postcards, demonstrating how public consultations on tobacco control measures can be flooded with industry influenced opinion.^[9]

In 2013, BAT acknowledged it had granted funding support for the Tobacco Retailers Alliance postcard campaign via the TMA.^[10]

• See BAT Funded Lobbying Against Plain Packaging.

Against Tobacco Smuggling

The TRA is convinced the illegal trade will profit most from plain packaging^[7]:

When around one in every six cigarettes in this country is already illicit, the criminals operating out of tab houses and street markets, undercutting proper shops and not caring who they sell to, will be rubbing their hands in glee.

The TRA supports enforcement acting by Trading Standars to identify, fine and ban from selling tobacco those shops and retailers who do not take proper precaution against selling to minors.

The November 201 TRA Newsletter included a call to report instances of tobacco smuggling. To inform your MP, the Alliance offers a free 0800 number for help to find their adress. For those who want to make an anonymous call, the Newsletter refers to the Customs Hotline or contact the RTA.

Direct Lobbying Activities

The political party conference season is one of the busiest times in the Tobacco Retailers Alliance calendar. In 2011, The TRA team went to the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservative conferences, and also to the SNP conference. The report on the tour in the TRA Newsletter reads as an overview of those MPs and party-members responsive to direct lobbying.^[11]

Liberal Democrats

Those who stopped by the stand at the LibDem conference included Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (and MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch); Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills (and Strathspey and Twickenham MP) and Stephen Gilbert, the MP for St Austell and Newquay. Ed Davey, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (and Kingston and Surbiton MP) also visited and his discussion focused on the business side of retailing. Another visitor was the Deputy Chief Whip, Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland.

Labour

“Solly Khonat raised the issue of the display ban with the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, himself!” The team also met with Camberwell and Peckam MP, Harriet Harman and with the Shadow Deputy Prime Minister and “rising Labour star”, Chuka Umunna (MP for Streatham) and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Other “leading lights of the party” that stopped by the stall were the Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls (MP for Morley & Outwood), Stephen Timms, the Shadow Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills (East Ham MP) and Shaun Woodward, the then Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (MP for St Helens South and Whiston) The focus of the converstations was on the the effect of tobacco smuggling on local communities.

Conservatives

The TRA stand was “pride of place in the exhibition area and attracted numerous visitors over the four days” and Iain Duncan Smith the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Chingford and Woodford Green MP) stopped by.

Scottish National Party

Geoff Barrett, the Scottish TRA Spokesman (left) took part in a panel discussion held by CitizenCard, the UK’s leading proof-of-age scheme. The event was entitled: “No ID No Sale; “Guess their age and face a £10,000 fine”. Also on the panel were: Edinburgh Councillor Tom Buchanan; David McNeill of Young Scot; Gordon Robb from Highland Trading Standards; Janet Hood from the British Institute of Innkeeping; and Paul Waterson of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association.

MP: Conflict of Interests?

In June 2009, then Labour MP for Tyne Bridge, David Clelland, was criticised by public health advocates for campaigning against Government plans to ban the display of cigarette packets in shops and newsagents without declaring a family link to a senior TRA lobbyist. The Sun newspaper reported that Clelland is the stepfather of Katherine Graham, who was the TRA’s campaign manager. The MP told the newspaper that the family link had no impact on his views, and that he did not declare this link “because he didn’t want to give the impression he was raising issues in Parliament because his stepdaughter worked for the Tobacco Retailers Alliance”.^[12]

Public Relations Strategies in 2000

Until 2000 public relations (PR) firm Edelman was contracted to represent the TA, but in late 2000 the TMA re-tendered the contract. ^[13] At the time, strong evidence was emerging that tobacco manufacturers were heavily involved in tobacco smuggling (see the pages on Imperial and Gallaher Involvement in Tobacco Smuggling and BAT Involvement in Tobacco Smuggling). There was mounting concern among the public and politicians about the amount of money being lost to the public purse as a result of the companies’ complicity. This was a central issue that the successful applicant would have to address.

An internal tobacco industry document, including a ‘summary of agency pitches’, reveals that four PR companies were invited to present their proposals.^[14] All information and quotations in this section are from this document unless an alternative source is cited.

Below is an overview of how each agency pitched their proposal to the TMA.

‘Reposition TA as an originator of research’

Corporate Responsibility Consulting (CRC) – a firm that works for British American Tobacco and has run the TMA-funded Atmosphere Improves Results Initiative since 1997^[15][16] – put in a joint bid with public affairs company BFi. The team for the presentation included Oliver Griffiths and Charles Baldwin for CRC, and Dee Fernandez and David Armstrong for BFi.

Their main proposal was to “emphasise damage to retailers”, “broaden the ally base”, “reposition TA as originator of research studies” and “talk up community dimension” including a possible campaigning called ‘Community Action on Tobacco Smuggling’. Their budget was £197,000.

The TMA’s verdict was that CRC had a “good global overview based on current knowledge but plans overambitious within constraints of current budget. ‘Mix and match’ with BFi potentially a difficulty”.^[14]

‘Change TA’s name’

Brook Wilkinson (BW) put in a bid with a company called Media Strategy “to augment [its] political and media expertise”. BW was already working for the TMA.^[17] The presenting team included *Rosemary Brook and Trudi Smith for BW, and Charles Lewington and Karen Alcock for Media Strategy.

BW wanted to “redefine TA objective to limiting tobacco tax rises to level of inflation”, “act fast to take advantage of ‘election fever’”, “widen TA’s partner base”, “change TA name in order to remove ‘tobacco’ – Shopkeepers Opposed to Smuggling suggested” and “encourage greater dialogue/feedback with retailers”. Their budget was £150,000 plus “extra disbursements” including “party conference stands”.

The TMA’s verdict? “Realistic approach based on existing knowledge of TA achievements to date. Involvement of Media Strategy will add value but at a cost. Paul Mason [spokesperson for TA] not keen on new name for TA.”^[14]

‘Gather intelligence and have instant rebuttal’

The third agency that was invited to present was PR21, who’s presentation team included Jonathan Hopkins, who was responsible for planning, Joe Brice client management and Nick Tennant for media relations.

The TMA noted that PR 21 provided an “in-house Labour/Conservative mix. Hopkins ex Labour Party/Trades Union campaign adviser. Brice former adviser to Sebastian Coe”.

PR21 proposed to emphasise “relationship building programmes”, “play up community angle and personalise the argument – eg, your shopkeeper, your town, etc”, “work on key decision makers and the circles of influence around them, especially in regions”, “gather competitor intelligence and have instant rebuttal response”, “use website to capture and manage information” and “set up ‘Working to Stop Smuggling’ round table forum in August. They would charge £169,900.

The TMA thought PR21 had a “sharp edged ‘New Labour’ approach to the brief” and would provide a “smooth adoption and harmonization of the Edelman pedigree”. They would offer a “no frills programme which could achieve least disruptive transition”.^[14]

‘Rebut manufacturers’ complicity

The fourth agency to present was PPS, including Mark Pendlington, Richard Mollet, Dr Steve John, andPhilippa White

.

PPS offered a core team based in London “but supplemented by PPS regional network in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Southampton, Cambridge and Leeds”. It suggested promoting “greater public awareness through advertising campaign and regionalized campaigning”, “personalising the cost – criminality, counterfeit, cost per voter/household”, “changing of TA name to ‘Anti-Smuggling Alliance’ to achieve common cause with other sectors”, “rebuttal of ‘manufacturers’ complicity’, ‘doesn’t affect me’, ‘can’t stop smugglers’” and better use of technology “to keep retailers informed and motivated”. Their charge was £114,000 “plus flexible disbursements on projects”.

The TMA thought PPS had a “well researched and presented pitch, manifest commitment to the project and advantage of ‘fresh blood’ approach. Strong intellectual rigour with likely, but untested, ‘hands on’ application. Regional network a bonus.”^[14]

It is interesting to note that the PPS proposal emphasised defending tobacco manufacturers against allegations of complicity in smuggling, even though the proposal was to represent retailers who were being undercut by the illegal trade.

The TMA decided to award the contract to PR21 in December 2000. The company started the work on 15 January 2001.^[18]

Notes

1. ↑ Tobacco Retailers Alliance website, About the Tobacco Retailers Alliance, undated, accessed 23 January 2012
2. ↑ Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association, Statement to Accompany Account Submitted to TMA Board of Directors, 20 February 2001, accessed 23 January 2012
3. ↑ TMA Campaign Group, Minutes of meeting, 11 January 2001, accessed 23 January 2012
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Tony St Aubyn, How to set up a Tobacco Alliance, Tobacco Alliance, 20 September 1983, accessed 31 January 2012
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} TRA, Retailers’ disappointment at Lansley’s back-track on display ban, undated, accessed 31 January 2012
6. ↑ Jame Doward, MPs fall foul of ‘dirty’ tricks by tobacco giants, the Guardian, 14 Dec 2008, accessed May 2013
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Tobacco Retailers’ Alliance, Retailer Plain Packaging Postcard Campaign Launched, 11 May 2012, accessed 31 May 2012
8. ↑ See both TobaccoRetailersAlliance.org.uk and TRA.org.uk, which are almost identical today, also under the tab ‘plain packaging’, accessed May 2013
9. ↑ Tobacco Retailer’s Alliance, 30,000 shop staff against plain packaging, 2012, accessed August 2012
10. ↑ Simon Millson, Group Head of Corporate Affairs for BAT, Letter to Deborah Arnott, ASH, 20 May 2013
11. ↑ Tobacco Retailers Alliance, Newsletter, November 2011, accessed June 2013
12. ↑ Coreena Ford, ‘MP David Clelland blasted over “smokescreen”‘, Sunday Sun, 21 June 2009, accessed 31 January 2012
13. ↑ TMA, Tobacco Alliance Account, 19 December 2000, accessed 30 January 2012
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4} TMA, Tobacco Alliance Account Summary of Agency Pitches, undated, accessed 30 January 2012
15. ↑ CRC website, Our work, undated, accessed 24 January 2012
16. ↑ Air Initiative website, Air Initiative homepage, undated, accessed 24 January 2012
17. ↑ Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association, Campaign Group Meeting, 10 December 1998, accessed 23 January 2012
18. ↑ TMA, Tobacco Alliance Account, 19 December 2000, accessed 30 January 2012