In a major embarrassment for British American Tobacco (BAT) on the eve of its AGM, 77 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling on the company to close the factory it owns jointly with the military dictatorship in Burma.
Activists from Burma Campaign UK and Friends of the Earth will hold a protest outside tomorrow’s AGM. They have also purchased shares so they can question the board at the meeting, including Ken Clarke MP, Deputy Chairman of BAT.
The 77 MPs from seven political parties include former Conservative government minister Peter Lilly MP, and David Amess MP – the former PPS to Michael Portillo MP. Other signatories include former Labour government ministers Glenda Jackson MP and Tony Banks MP, and Liberal Democrat development spokesperson Dr Jenny Tonge MP.
The EDM was put down by Vera Baird MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Burma. “BAT is behaving in a morally unconscionable manner and should cease operations immediately”, said Vera Baird. “Ultimately the regime is grateful for the operations of companies such as BAT.”
John Jackson, Director of Burma Campaign UK, welcomed the cross party support for the campaign “BAT’s business partners in Burma are rapists, murderers and torturers. We want to make BAT Directors explain to shareholders why they fund this brutal military dictatorship.”
For more information, including a full list of MPs supporting the EDM, contact John Jackson, Director, or Mark Farmaner, Media Officer, on 020 7281 7377