Tobacco company spent 140 million - deployed 161 lobbyists

[toots]

Well well well, I didn't know this - did you?

The Observer newspaper in September published evidence that the Philip Morris tobacco company spent 140 million euros and deployed 161 lobbyists in a bid to mold the directive to its own interests.

It's at the bottom of this article written in November: elpais.com/elpais/2013/11/01/inenglish/1383330250_535579.html

[barrynorton]

Where did 140MEUR come from?

Here's the Observer article with 161 lobbyists, but I see only £1.25m in expenses:

www.theguardian.com/business/2013/sep/07/tobacco-philip-morris-millions-delay-eu-legislation

[toots]

Mar 5, 2014 18:10:05 GMT barrynorton said:

Where did 140MEUR come from?

Here's the Observer article with 161 lobbyists, but I see only £1.25m in expenses:

www.theguardian.com/business/2013/sep/07/tobacco-philip-morris-millions-delay-eu-legislation

Huh I just got that from the article I linked to. Looks like someone got their figures wrong

[monty]

Could both be right, total spend on lobbyists is not the same as expenses. Expenses are hotel bills, taxis etc.

[davetherayon]

That's a lot of greasy palms.

[barrynorton]

Mar 9, 2014 12:21:14 GMT monty said:

Could both be right, total spend on lobbyists is not the same as expenses. Expenses are hotel bills, taxis etc.

Not saying it's not correct, only that there are only 4/5 issues of The Observer every month and I can't find a source for their quote.