Phil Chamberlain
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philchamberlain.bsky.social
Phil Chamberlain
@philchamberlain.bsky.social
Tobacco Control Research Group at University of Bath; author Blacklisted and Drones & Journalism; investigative journalist and academic; radical press historian; Wiltshire Cllr
As the latest Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index launches, Mary Assunta on how properly taxing tobacco is a win-win for health services www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Taxing tobacco is a win-win for health services under pressure. So why aren’t governments demanding more? | Mary Assunta
The latest Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index shows how companies are succeeding in influencing governments to ensure taxes remain flat or stubbornly low
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Been planning away for #GIJC25 - lots to look forward to. And plenty of people to connect with.
📖 Explore the full #GIJC25 program and plan your schedule:
🔗 https://twp.ai/uIBDld
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
“State capture – a form of corruption so deeply embedded that it shapes the rules of democracy itself.” www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Forget petty bribes, ‘state capture’ is corruption so deep it is shaping the rules of democracy itself | Kenneth Mohammed
Beating the dangerous influence of private interests on governments requires independent judges, journalists and a courageous civil society
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
The European Ombudsman "has opened an inquiry into whether the European Commission acted secretively in its dealings with industry before launching a series of business-friendly initiatives".

The Ombudsman was acting on a complaint by the Corporate Europe Observatory
www.politico.eu/article/ombu...
October 29, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
Lord Strathcarron, a hereditary peer trying to stop a smoking ban for future generations, told me he discussed the bill with a relative at British American Tobacco. His amendments will be voted on in the House of Lords tomorrow. www.theexamination.org/articles/uk-...
Lawmaker with family ties to British American Tobacco attempts to stop UK smoking ban
Lord Strathcarron didn’t publicly disclose his family connection even as he adopted the tobacco giant’s position on a “smoke-free generation” bill.
www.theexamination.org
October 26, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Peer lobbying to water down tobacco bill fails to declare conflict of interest, story from @theguardian.com and @theexamination.org www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Peer trying to derail UK smoking ban discussed bill with relative at tobacco firm
Lord Strathcarron says he and an in-law ‘high up’ at British American Tobacco discussed bill, which he aims to weaken
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:01 AM
12 hours in to Wiltshire Council full council and so far Tories and Reform have collaborated to support action on screenwash and making press releases nicer to them. They didn’t support a motion of solidarity to the LGBTQIA+ community or back axing of car parking charges for Blue Badge holders.
October 21, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reporting on @tcrgbath.bsky.social, Investigative Desk and Tax Justice Network Africa analysis of British American Tobacco in Africa - and the mysterious missing millions
open.substack.com/pub/p/unmask...
Unmasking Big Tobacco: Inside the “Missing Millions” That Shook PAC 2025
Aggressive tax avoidance by multinationals like BAT exacerbates these issues, reducing government income amid rising civil unrest over tax hikes on ordinary citizens.
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
“Tobacco control advocacy is not without risks... Tobacco control advocates should be recognised as human rights defenders (HRDs).”

- Dr. @brittakm.bsky.social, @tcrgbath.bsky.social and Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, ASH

Learn more about protections for Human Rights Defenders: ow.ly/9Occ50X9lCP
October 9, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Great to hear @ambervandenakker.bsky.social and @spidermaani.bsky.social on the latest @tcrgbath.bsky.social podcast looking at why health-harming industries, like tobacco, seek a seat at the policy-making table.
✨ New podcast episode out now ✨

This week on #DeadlyIndustryPod, Louis is joined by @ambervandenakker.bsky.social and @spidermaani.bsky.social from @lhgp.bsky.social to unpack a critical concept - multistakeholderism.

🎧 Listen now: shows.acast.com/deadly-indus...
October 7, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
This morning Professor Anna Gilmore spoke about the Commercial Determinants of Health #CDOH, #ClimateChange and noncommunicable diseases #NCDs at the 3rd Hearing of the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health #PECCH.

Find out more 👇
Prof Anna Gilmore spoke today at WHO's #PECC hearing on #climate & #health, urging Ministries to tackle commercial determinants & conflicts of interest.

Read more: www.bath.ac.uk/announcement... #PECC

@uniofbath.bsky.social @who.int #greensky
October 2, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
(3/3)

🙏 Huge thanks to everyone who made Series 2 possible - our brilliant guests, collaborators, production team, and the wider #tobaccocontrol community.

#DeadlyIndustryPod #PublicHealth #PodcastSeries2
September 30, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
(2/3)

Here’s what’s coming up in the first three episodes – out now:

1️⃣ We explore the experiences of tobacco farmers.

2️⃣ We find out about the tobacco supply chain and its global reach.

3️⃣ We head to London to discover how deep the connection of this industry is to the British capital.
September 30, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
🧵 (1/3)

🎙️ Series 2 of our podcast Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is here! 🚨

🎧 Listen and share to help us hold this deadly industry to account: shows.acast.com/deadly-indus...

@uniofbath.bsky.social @lhgp.bsky.social @centre21cpubhealth.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
September 30, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Well-known authors who you rarely find in charity shops. Elmore Leonard, Roald Dahl, Murakami.
September 28, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Blacklisted union activist launches judicial review after #spycops inquiry bars him from giving oral evidence.
www.hazards.org/blacklistblo...
Spycops inquiry chair faces legal challenge by blacklisted union activist
Legal papers applying for a Judicial Review have been submitted against the chair of the undercover policing inquiry by blacklisted union activist Dave Smith. The application, to be decided on by a…
www.hazards.org
September 25, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Arriving next week is S2 of the @tcrgbath.bsky.social podcast Deadly Industry. Eight episodes uncovering tobacco stories from around the globe. Ep 3 featuring a tobacco tour of London’s lobbying, plotting and selling.
✨ Our podcast Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is back for Series Two! ✨

We return Tues 30 September with eight powerful episodes exposing the tactics that keep the tobacco industry powerful and profitable.

🎧 Listen to our new trailer: shows.acast.com/deadly-indus...

#DeadlyIndustryPod
September 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
“Discreditation. Complaints. Legal threats. Surveillance.”

Dr Karen Evans-Reeves and Dr Gemma Mitchell describe 6 ways the alcohol industry and front groups try to silence those protecting public health.

More in our latest blog: www.ias.org.uk/2025/09/16/a... @tcrgbath.bsky.social
Alcohol industry intimidation of researchers and advocates - Institute of Alcohol Studies
The alcohol industry, like tobacco before it, uses intimidation to discredit and deter researchers and advocates who challenge its practices. Our latest blog highlights the tactics used worldwide - an...
www.ias.org.uk
September 16, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Just started dipping in to Elmore Leonard for the first time and it is as good as I hoped. Penguin have just added three of his to their classic crime series
‘Elmore Leonard is often praised as a virtuoso of naturalistic dialogue, its rhythms and characteristic illogic (my favourite bit in this book is a flirtatious yogism – Berra, not Buddha – of Stick’s: “You’re from somewhere, aren’t you? Let me guess”).’
J. Robert Lennon
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
J. Robert Lennon · Never use your own car: Elmore Leonard’s Superpower
I don’t think there’s anyone on today’s bestseller lists as accomplished on the page as Elmore Leonard was; he...
www.lrb.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
✨ Our podcast Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is back for Series Two! ✨

We return Tues 30 September with eight powerful episodes exposing the tactics that keep the tobacco industry powerful and profitable.

🎧 Listen to our new trailer: shows.acast.com/deadly-indus...

#DeadlyIndustryPod
September 16, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Reposted by Phil Chamberlain
Does Luxon have any standards? Costello seems able to break all the rules with impunity. More evidence, as if we needed it: www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Casey Costello breached rules by giving tobacco industry-friendly document to health officials
But the inquiry has still not revealed who wrote the 'mystery document', which claimed nicotine was no more harmful than caffeine.
www.rnz.co.nz
September 16, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Mandelson will be gone by Sunday but the Tories will have taken zero action on their former leader and Prime Minister Johnson and the washing machine of dodgy cash he has set up with public funds www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Leaked files cast doubt on source of £2.6m in Tory donations
Official log records meeting ‘with Wafic Saïd (donor)’, a Canadian citizen whose British wife has given to party
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 5:24 PM