Liam Ronan DE BARRA’s lobbying activities on behalf of British American Tobacco are wide-ranging and multi-faceted, showcasing a comprehensive approach to influencing UK and EU policymakers. Over recent years, De Barra has attended numerous meetings with Members of Parliament (MPs), members of the House of Lords, officials from the Department of Health and Social Care, Treasury representatives, and EU Commission officials dealing with health and trade policy.
Key documented meetings include bilateral discussions with the UK Health Minister and parliamentary committees on health legislation, where De Barra presented BAT’s position on forthcoming tobacco packaging regulations. His involvement preceded changes that softened plain packaging enforcement timelines, demonstrating his influence on legislative outcomes. He also engaged Treasury officials during budget planning sessions to negotiate excise tax levels, arguing for more moderate increases to prevent illicit trade growth.
On the European level, De Barra regularly interacted with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), particularly around the implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). His participation in these dialogues coincided with amendments that relaxed certain restrictions on novel tobacco products, benefiting BAT’s broader product portfolio.
De Barra’s lobbying also extended to Brexit-related discussions, ensuring BAT’s interests were considered in future UK-EU regulatory alignments. He coordinated with legal experts and industry coalitions to advocate for regulatory frameworks that would maintain market access and limit disruptions.
His methodology often included submitting detailed position papers, commissioning economic impact studies, and hosting roundtable discussions with policymakers and public stakeholders to frame BAT as a responsible corporate actor. This approach was evident in meetings with MPs on health select committees, where De Barra emphasized BAT’s commitment to harm reduction technologies.
Other notable lobbying events included participation in trade and business forums where BAT’s role as a major UK employer was highlighted to counterbalance health-focused critiques. These efforts reportedly influenced government communications framing tobacco policy as a balance between public health and economic sustainability.
Together, these activities reveal a consistent pattern of strategic engagement designed to shape regulatory outcomes, prevent overly restrictive policies, and promote BAT’s long-term business objectives across the UK and EU policymaking landscape. De Barra’s lobbying work is characterized by its comprehensive nature, coordinated across multiple government branches and policy arenas, cementing his role as a pivotal figure in BAT’s government relations strategy.
