Prime Minister David Cameron denied opposition Labour accusations that the tobacco links of the man running his re-election campaign may have influenced the government’s decision to back away from plain packaging, The Independent reported.

"This is a complete red herring which is raised by the Labour Party because it is in political trouble”, Cameron reportedly told the House of Commons. Lynton Crosby, Cameron’s campaign manager, may have influenced government tobacco policy because Philip Morris International is a client of the election strategist’s lobbying company, according to Labour.
Cameron said putting plain packaging for cigarettes on hold was a decision taken by himself and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt because there is insufficient evidence that it would be effective and because of uncertainty about its legality, The Independent said.