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Ukip given £25,000 by manufacturer of e-cigarettes which were later hailed as 'remarkable' by smoker Nigel Farage

• Ukip leader appeared in 90-second film attacking EU plans to ban devices
  
• After puffing on screen he says he could 'very easily' give up smoking
  
• He criticised plans to outlaw refillable e-cigarettes made by 'entrepreneurs'
  
• Pillbox38 Ltd, which makes Totally Wicked refillable e-cigs, gave £25,000
  
• Donation made to Ukip in May 2013, but bosses now say they regret it

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has promoted e-cigarettes just months after accepting a hefty donation from the manufacturer.

He appeared in a YouTube video describing the refillable product as ‘remarkable’ in December, seven months after the firm and its founder gave the party £36,000.

Mr Farage, who is a smoker, was attacking an EU proposal to ban refillable cigarettes, while allowing smaller versions to be sold[...]

New EU rules bring us one step closer to a tobacco free Europe

We dream of a day in the not-too-distant future when the death and disease caused by tobacco is a thing of the past.

And it’s easy to see why: smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in Europe, accounting for 16 per cent of all adult deaths. Tobacco-related diseases, including cancer, affect around 13 million people worldwide.

This week, we came one giant step closer to realising our dream, thanks to a landmark vote by the European Parliament in Strasbourg that made public health history.

Their overwhelming support for a new law ushering in tough minimum standards on tobacco will mean children and young people are better protected from tobacco harm than ever before.

And that’s great news for all of us.


What this means to you and I

The new law, called the Tobacco Products Directive, means EU countries will need to meet the following conditions:

• Compulsory picture health warnings that cover 65 per cent of the upper part of each pack on both sides. Evidence shows that health warnings hammer home the dangers of smoking to young people, and we’re glad the directive reflects this evidence.
  
  
• Banning descriptions of tobacco flavours like ‘fruit’ and ‘vanilla’, which we know appeal to young people.
  
  
• Strong tracking and tracing provisions to stem illegal trade, which will help in the fight against tobacco smuggling.
  
  
• New rules for e-cigarettes. Manufacturers can either apply for them to be regulated as medicinal products, if they claim that they help people quit, or be subject to further regulation as consumer products under the directive.