Kevin Barron: Cameron is lost for words over threats to public health

Last month, I brought up at Prime Minister’s Question Time the fact that I had written a letter to the Prime Minister on May 8 this year about public health and Lynton Crosby’s involvement, or non-involvement, in public health matters.

I asked several questions, including “Have you ever discussed cigarette packaging policy with Lynton Crosby? Have you ever discussed minimum alcohol pricing with Lynton Crosby?”

The last question was: “Were the Government’s legislative priorities discussed at the meeting which reportedly took place at Chequers on Thursday 21 February, involving you, George Osborne, Ed Llewellyn (Downing Street chief of staff) and Lynton Crosby (election strategist)?”

I have not yet, months later, had a reply from the Prime Minister to that letter.

As I said, I brought the matter up at Prime Minister’s Question Time on June 19. I told the Prime Minister I had written to him on May 8 and had not yet received a reply, and briefly mentioned that the letter was about Lynton Crosby and alcohol and standard packaging of cigarettes. He did not reply, instead saying: “I can tell you, Mr Speaker, that Lynton Crosby has never lobbied me on anything.” If that is the case – if he believes that – why he cannot reply to my letter of May 8 is beyond me.

The Prime Minister continued: “The only opinions that I am interested in are how we destroy the credibility of the Labour party, on which he has considerable expertise, though I have to say that he is not doing as good a job as the Labour party.” It is perfectly clear what agenda Mr Crosby is setting.

In the debate on managing risk in the NHS, I intervened on the Shadow Health Secretary (Andy Burnham), saying: “My right hon. Friend knows well…that in the past two months there has been a marked change in the coalition Government’s approach on the National Health Service.

“It started with the absurd argument that the problems in accident and emergency departments were the result of the 2004 GP contract. Is it not more likely that what is happening is that Mr Lynton Crosby is telling Government Members to squeeze the lead that Labour has had over the Conservative Party for many decades on the NHS?”

That is exactly what is happening. I went on to mention that that is not only demoralising NHS staff and frightening NHS patients, but is doing enormous damage to the credibility of politicians up and down the land. I got an e-mail from a Conservative MP who was tabling an early-day motion. He said he thinks we should get party politics out of the NHS. I agree.

I am concerned about the non-reply to my letter for several reasons. The Prime Minister gave his view on this matter on March 23, 2012, in a No 10 Downing Street press release: “The Prime Minister is leading Government action to tackle binge-drinking culture by supporting proposals a minimum unit price for alcohol.”

It says the Home Secretary is involved in that, and the Prime Minister is quoted as saying: “So we’re going to attack it from every angle. More powers for pubs to stop serving alcohol to people who are already drunk. More powers for hospitals not just to tackle the drunks turning up in A&E – but also the problem clubs that send them there night after night. And a real effort to get to grips with the root cause of the problem. And that means coming down hard on cheap alcohol.”

We had a statement from the Home Office, again, which is most likely to view alcohol as a law and order issue. I wish that people would view alcohol as an issue of health and the damage it is doing to the young generation.

Thirty years ago, people of my age – men in their 60s – died of alcohol-related diseases. Young men and women in their 20s are dying of cirrhosis of the liver now: not just one or two, but many of them. We must take a hold of this problem and the Prime Minister and the Government are not doing that. The Government is backing down and taking notice of industry, and the areas that affect public health are being left.

Everybody ought to know that the dangers to public health in this century, as opposed to past centuries, are caused by individual lifestyles. The Government is ducking taking action on individual lifestyles in favour of industry.

I hope that one day I will get a reply to my letter.