SPL stars join bid to stub out tobacco industry cash handouts

By Michael MacLeod

SCOTLAND’S top footballers have backed a campaign to show the red card to a £300million taxpayer handout to the tobacco trade.

Euro MP Alyn Smith has signed up the skippers from Rangers, Hearts and Aberdeen in a battle against public money supporting tobacco farmers.

David Weir, Michael Stewart and Mark Kerr have all joined the SNP MEP’s campaign, it is hoped could tackle cancer death levels.

Around one third of the population of Europe smokes, and the habit is estimated to be behind one million fatalities.