Reports that the Government plan to reject a proposed sugar tax has been met with outrage by campaigners seeking to address the country's obesity issue.
According to The Telegraph, Prime Minister David Cameron has reportedly rejected the 20% tax in a move which has ignited uproar among anti-obesity campaigners.
While Mr. Cameron reportedly intends to use the threat of a levy to encourage companies to reduce the sugar content of their products, this proposed alternative has done little to appease campaign groups who question the Prime Minister's motives.
Calling on the Government to reconsider proposed action, spokesman for National Obesity Forum, Tam Fry, said: "The decision must be reversed or it will be more proof that the Government is in the thrall of the food industry and the sugar barons will have won yet again."
Reinforcing expert opinion that the proposed sugar tax would act as a preventative against childhood obesity in addition to contributing to a reduction in Type 2 Diabetes. Graham MacGregor, chairman and founder of Action on Sugar, asserted: "It seems to me that Cameron is being very stupid rejecting this."
In a scathing assessment of Prime Minister Cameron's time in power, Mr. MacGregor, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, continued: "Everything he does ends up in chaos, this was his one opportunity to achieve a legacy. He will be a Prime Minister who has achieved nothing."
In stark contrast to Mr. MacGregor's damning evaluation, Brook Whealon of People Against Sugar Tax commended the Prime Minister's approach to the issue, saying: "We are pleased to see that David Cameron recognises the regressive impact a sugar tax would have had on poorer families. This is a victory for common sense."
Adamant they Government's decision will not signal the end of the campaign, Mr. MacGregor insisted: "We won’t stop and if the UK doesn’t want to stop doing it, we will go to another country like Argentina or Chile which are much better organised in terms of public health and nutrition."
The Government's childhood obesity plan is due to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
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