British Prime Minister David Cameron is standing by his Australian election strategist Lynton Crosby despite mounting criticism over the lobbyist's links to big tobacco.
The conservative government last week shelved plans to follow Canberra's lead by introducing plain packaging for cigarettes.
Labour says that's because Mr Crosby has ties with Philip Morris.
Opposition Leader Ed Miliband on Wednesday said the government had legislation in the pipeline "but changed its view after he (Mr Cameron) hired Lynton Crosby who also happens to work for big tobacco in the shape of Philip Morris".
"Are we really supposed to believe that's a coincidence," the Labour leader said in the Commons.
"He (Mr Cameron) is the prime minister for Benson and Hedgefunds and he knows it.
"Can't he see there is a devastating conflict of interest between having your key advisor raking it in from big tobacco and then advising him not to go ahead with plain packaging."
The prime minister, however, insisted Mr Crosby "has never lobbied me on anything".
Mr Cameron said the strategist's role was to advise him "how to defeat a divided and useless Labour party".
Mr Crosby is often referred to as the Wizard of Oz in the British press after he helped former Liberal prime minister John Howard win four consecutive terms.
It's been reported that since he was put in charge of the Tory's 2015 election campaign he's fallen out with pro-gay marriage advisors.
The conservative party has also increasingly appealed to voters' perceived prejudices on immigration.
Mr Cameron on Wednesday insisted the tobacco decision was taken by himself and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
"If you don't agree with that decision then you can attack me for making it," the PM said.
Although Mr Cameron claimed he'd never been lobbied by Mr Crosby on the issue, the PM refused to say whether the pair had spoken about plain packaging.
Australian Health Minister Tanya Plibersek earlier this week said: "It's very clear Lynton Crosby has been a key adviser in this move to dump plain packaging in the UK."
Under Canberra's world-first laws, which came into effect in late 2012, all cigarettes must be sold in drab olive-brown packs with large graphic health warnings and brand names in a small, generic font.
Mr Cameron on Wednesday also back-pedalled on plans to impose a minimum unit price on all alcohol.
The Press Association later reported that a Downing Street source dodged repeated questions over whether Mr Cameron had had conversations with Mr Crosby over cigarette packaging.
The source would only say: "Lynton Crosby's firm advises the Conservative Party on strategy, not ministers on government policy."
Mr Crosby himself declined to answer the same question, telling the BBC: "The prime minister's said everything that needs to be said on that issue."
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