MPs slam Blackburn Rovers for accepting sponsorship from vaping companies

MPs have voiced their criticism of Blackburn Rovers and other sports teams for promoting vape companies through sponsorship deals. During a Commons children and vaping, Conservative chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee Steve Brine took an angry swipe and called on the Lancashire club to "look themselves in the mirror.

The Championship team prominently displays the logo of vaping brand Totally Wicked on its shirt. Last month, the club and the vape company announced that they would continue their partnership for a sixth season. But the Labour motion during the debate expressed concern about children being inappropriately exposed to e-cigarette promotions and called for a ban on vapes being branded and advertised to appeal to children.

Speaking from the SNP frontbench, Kirsten Oswald referenced the Advertising Standards Authority and criticised Blackburn Rovers for their sponsorship deal with Totally Wicked. She stated that it would be unacceptable if a football club had cigarette branding on their shirts, and she questioned why vaping advertising should be any more acceptable. Oswald also highlighted that Totally Wicked sponsors St Helens Rugby Football Club, with the team's stadium named the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Steve Brine, a former health minister, speaking about “the Blackburn Rover issue” said it was “the opposite of totally wicked in my opinion”. He said children used the phrase “totally wicked” and said he could “see why that would be attractive to that company wishing to carry that advertising on those shirts”.

He added: “I would ask Blackburn Rovers to look themselves in the mirror about that one, as much as the company that are doing the advertising. Because it takes two to tango. So yeah, I am