Chris Mason of the BBC posted an article recently which took aim at Elon Musk suggesting he may offer Reform UK a lot of money to fund their politics. Any concern about outside influence should also be directed to well-funded entities like the World Health Organisation (WHO) who want to have undue influence on UK health decisions.
His caution is well argued. He said that it could be “the most clear-cut proof yet of the richest man in the world's desire to get involved in – meddle in, as some see it – British politics.” He further asked the valid question as to “whether it would be legal – and whether it would be seen as legitimate” that a foreign funder could change the UK’s politics by throwing a load of funding at the UK to change UK laws.
He suggested that the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Elections thinks such influence is wrong and that the law should be changed. Mason finishes by concluding that politicians are right “to fret about the political threat they fear [rich American men] increasingly poses to them.”
But we already face this threat, and UK politicians are not only unconcerned about it, but it is also actively changing the way they legislate. And worse, in many cases, UK politicians are already paying for it. We have already experienced this week two examples of this which Chris Mason is clearly unaware of but are actively changing the way UK politicians legislate in the UK.
In Scotland on Monday, the government received advice from a senior policy advisor to the WHO that said that the tobacco, vaping and nicotine industries are "all basically the same.” Not only is this directly in contravention of UK government commissioned policy by the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, but the UK is one of the biggest funders of the WHO. We have paid handsomely for this misinformation.
The UK is paying money to an organisation to deliberately go behind the back of British taxpayer funding and advance ideas which are plainly wrong. Moreover, Mackay is a key board member of the Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC) which is funded by one of the richest American billionaires on the planet, Michael Bloomberg.
In the same week, Sophie Braznell of University of Bath has said on YouTube that when colleagues are of the opinion that safer nicotine products could be good for public health, she likes to change their minds by reminding them of the organisations which make them. The University of Bath is unashamedly funded by American billionaire, Michael Bloomberg, to the tune of $20 million to solely attack the tobacco harm reduction industry. This is not about protecting public health.
Mason suggests that “a number much smaller than [$78 million] could still be very big, and game-changing for Reform's prospects.” He’s quite right, the $20 million that Bloomberg has fed his staff in the UK has led to a Tobacco and Vapes Bill which relies on media engagement that rich Americans have bought.
Braznell’s intervention during her YouTube talk is not driven by care for public health, but by her adherence to Bloomberg funding which only demands she object to industry involvement. Likewise, Mackay’s comments are motivated solely by her commitment to her funders, the rich American billionaire, Michael Bloomberg. She has no desire, or pressure, to consider the UK’s public health when she is asked to speak.
In perfect alignment with Bloomberg’s investment for government not to consult with industry, Andrew Gwynne (the public health secretary), was proud to state that they had not asked any questions of any organisation which makes vaping products.
Likewise, the committee stage of the previous incarnation of the Tobacco and Vapes bill refused to take evidence from any industry organisation, and also did not even include testimony from representatives of the 5.6 million consumers of less harmful nicotine products.
The committee did take testimony from two members of the University of Bath’s Bloomberg-funded anti-vaping group.
The committee stage of the newly resurrected Tobacco and Vapes Bill takes place soon. It is almost certain, once again, to not include anyone who understands the policy area. It will certainly include those paid by an American billionaire to deliberately spread misinformation to elected MPs. And politicians will be none the wiser.
Chris Mason can warn against American influence of our politicians by rich Americans, but it is already here. There is nothing “clear-cut” about Musk’s involvement, he’s just following those who have already been successful before him.
Martin Cullip is International Fellow at The Taxpayers Protection Alliance's Consumer Center and is based in South London, UK.
