Blair quizzed over holiday at home of tobacco chief

[Khephra]

Blair quizzed over holiday at home of tobacco chief
By Andrew Grice, Political Editor
27 December 2004


Parliament's anti-sleaze watchdog has asked Tony Blair to explain why he failed to declare a holiday with a businessman who was a powerful figure in the tobacco industry.

Downing Street confirmed yesterday that the Prime Minister would be replying to Sir Philip Mawer, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. Although Sir Philip initially dismissed a complaint by the Tory MP Chris Grayling, he has now asked Mr Blair for more information. Mr Grayling claims Mr Blair should have disclosed in the MPs' Register of Interests his family's five-day holiday in 2002 at the 15th-century chateau owned by Alain Dominique Perrin, in the Lot region of south-west France. At the time, he was chief executive of the luxury goods firm Richemont, whose brands include Dunhill and Cartier and which owns a 21 per cent stake in British American tobacco. Although he retired from the post last year, he remains an executive board member.

The Prime Minister told the Commissioner that his long-standing friendship with M. Perrin did not arise from his parliamentary duties. He was unaware of any business interest that might have influenced his actions.

Labour's links with the tobacco industry are a sensitive issue. In 1991, Mr Blair was included on a Tobacco Advisory Council list of politicians and opinion formers viewed as "friendly" towards the industry. After he became Prime Minister, Labour returned a £1m donation from the Formula 1 powerbroker Bernie Ecclestone after it emerged that he had lobbied Mr Blair to delay a ban on the sport being sponsored by the tobacco industry.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=596134

[Benhurst]

1. Who could think Tony "The Bridge" Blair would ever

do anything sleazy?