Archive
Cambridge News | Latest News Headlines From Cambridge City & Cambridgeshire | National News By Cambridge News | Council ‘dealing in death’ over £25m to tobacco industry
Another version of the deliberations in Cambridgeshire. It is welcome that the council is reviewing its position. I hope it will take seriously the ASH guidance on this issue and the UK’s obligations under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
BBC News – Cambridgeshire council’s £25m tobacco investment criticised
BBC News – Cambridgeshire council’s £25m tobacco investment criticised.
BBC local news story following up the recent press coverage in Cambridgeshire. There appears to be a pattern developing of LibDem opposition councillors around the country challenging these tobacco investments, but so far, as far as I am aware, it is still only Newham Council in London that is tobacco free in England. But as the date when councils become responsible for public health grows ever closer, it seems inevitable that the impossible conflict between investing in tobacco and improving public health will see more councils taking the inevitable decision to pull out of tobacco. 80,000 tobacco deaths a year in England alone is the one fact that ought to make this decision a simple one!
LA Pension fund holdings revealed
Recently the Independent newspaper ran a feature article on local authority pension fund holdings in the UK. Journalist Mark Patterson carried out the research and wrote the story, and he has kindly agreed to let Tobacco Free Pensions have the spreadsheet with all the details obtained through Freedom of Information requests, so we can all see what tobacco stocks each pension fund holds.
It’s worth noting though that many councils did not supply the information requested or even declined to answer. Please help to fill the gaps by making your own FOI requests and appealing any refusals, and let me have the details.
You can view the spreadsheet here .
Smoking concerns may prompt ban on SIC investment in tobacco firms | ShetlandTimes.co.uk
Smoking concerns may prompt ban on SIC investment in tobacco firms | ShetlandTimes.co.uk.
V interesting article from Shetland on tobacco investments. A must read, including the councillor comment that follows. I’ll try and find time to read the council report and see if I concur with his view that this was a flawed report.
Tobacco fund row ignites council leader’s ire (From Oxford Mail)
Tobacco fund row ignites council leader’s ire (From Oxford Mail).
Remarkable stuff from the Oxford Council leader who declares himself content with receiving funds from tobacco investments paid for by “stupid smokers!”
I wonder what the Director of Public Health thinks?
COMMENT: Dilemma is a real drag for the council (From Oxford Mail)
LAs given authoritative advice on tobacco investments
ASH and Fair Pensions have released a joint briefing on the issue of local authority investment in tobacco. A must read for anyone wanting their LA to pull out of tobacco.
Council leader Nash Ali defends Town Hall’s £32m tobacco pension investment | Camden New Journal
Council leader Nash Ali defends Town Hall’s £32m tobacco pension investment | Camden New Journal.
3.7% of Camden’s pension fund is invested in tobacco, some £32 million. About 230 Camden citizens are killed by smoking each year. Assuming a 5% return on investment that’s about £7,000 a life
The Government should give up the smokes | Article | The Punch
The Government should give up the smokes | Article | The Punch.
An excellent article calling on the Australian government to take action to remove tobacco from its own Future Fund, the biggest superannuation fund in Australia.
Tobacco Free Pensions 