British American Tobacco (BAT), the company behind brands such as Lucky Strike and Dunhill, emerged as a notable sponsor at the Reform UK party conference held this month in Birmingham. Delegates were seen wearing lanyards branded by BAT’s Omni initiative, a program aimed at expanding its nicotine product portfolio.

Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has positioned itself firmly against the upcoming generational smoking ban, which is set to take effect in January. The new legislation will prohibit the sale of tobacco products to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, effectively instituting a ban for future generations. Farage, who is a smoker himself, has described the ban as "pious grandstanding masquerading as legislation" and pledged that it would be repealed if Reform UK attains greater political influence. He stated in March, shortly before the Tobacco and Vapes Bill received Royal Assent, that the party would scrap the ban in its efforts to "rebuild the mismanaged country."

The sponsorship has drawn criticism from health advocates and politicians across the political spectrum. The all-party parliamentary group on smoking and health, co-chaired by Conservative MP Bob Blackman and Labour MP Mary Kelly Foy, condemned Reform UK’s support for tobacco sales to younger generations, asserting that party leaders are out of step with public opinion and their own voters, who largely favor measures to reduce tobacco-related harm.

Nick Hopkinson, professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London, questioned the motivation behind the sponsorship and Reform UK’s stance on tobacco regulation, highlighting concerns over the potential harm to children and the ongoing tobacco epidemic.

Details regarding the financial terms of BAT’s sponsorship remain undisclosed. UK regulations require political sponsorship exceeding £11,180 to be reported to the Electoral Commission, which publishes such disclosures quarterly. BAT declined to specify the value of its support or to comment on any prior funding provided to Reform UK.

A BAT spokesperson emphasized the firm's engagement across the political spectrum, stating that “like many large businesses, we engage with policymakers and political parties across the political spectrum to contribute to informed policymaking.”

Reform UK acknowledged BAT’s involvement as among several sponsors representing various industries at what it called its largest conference to date. The party reaffirmed that its and Farage’s views on smoking and tobacco are longstanding and widely known.