[A-List] UK state: political realignment

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Just in case the supremely capable Kenneth Clarke unseats Iain Duncan Smith,
there is always the very valid smear concerning his business career in big
tobacco, and its associations with unsavoury dictatorships (no, not Blair,
but Burma).


Clarke in fresh row over Burma links
By Nigel Morris Political Correspondent
The Independent, 12 November 2002

Kenneth Clarke faced new embarrassment over his post at British American
Tobacco last night after he admitted feeling "uncomfortable" about
investment in Burma, where the company runs a factory with the country's
military regime.

The former Tory Chancellor, who is deputy chairman of BAT, owned up to his
misgivings in a letter to a constituent. He added: "The problem in Burma
arises when companies start collaborating with an extremely unpleasant
regime which is totally contrary to our notions of civil liberties and
democracy."

Pro-democracy campaigners seized on his remarks and challenged him to resign
from BAT. They also renewed calls for the company to leave Burma, which is
subject to trade and investment boycotts by Britain and the European Union.

BAT's Burmese subsidiary, Rothmans of Pall Mall Myanmar, is a joint venture
with the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings, which is owned by Burma's
military junta. BAT pays workers in Burma 23p a day - 37p below the UN's
definition of extreme poverty.

Burma Campaign UK's director, John Jackson, said: "BAT's collaboration ...
is helping to keep this brutal dictatorship in power. Mr Clarke should get
them to pull out."

Vera Baird, Labour MP and head of the all-party parliamentary group on
Burma, said: "He should clearly - if he's a man of conscience - either
resign, disengage completely from BAT or he should use his influence to
withdraw."

Mr Clarke claimed it was impossible to have a blanket law banning British
firms from doing business with dictators because dictatorship "unfortunately
continues to be the form of government in large proportions of the globe".