DAVID Cameron was accused today (Wednesday, May 8) of dropping key Bills from the Queen’s Speech – including one to cut smoking by children – because of the influence of a top aide.

Ed Miliband turned his fire on ex-lobbyist Lynton Crosby, now the prime minister’s strategy chief, as attention turned to measures left out of the government’s programme.

It was revealed this week that Mr Crosby runs an Australian lobbying firm which has worked for cigarette giants fighting the introduction of plain packaging.

The firm also works for a drinks industry body that has campaigned against plans for minimum alcohol pricing in Australia.

Today (Wednesday, May 8), Mr Cameron dismayed health campaigners by axing proposals to both force firms to sell cigarettes in plain packets and to slap a minimum price on alcohol.

Also missing from the Queen’s Speech were long-promised plans for compulsory register that would make lobbyists reveal their clients.

In the Commons, the Labour leader pointed out that the government had vowed to protect children “attracted to smoke by glitzy designs on packets”.

And he said: “That was the previous Health Secretary, before they hired their new strategist - the one whose company worked for big tobacco.

“And now what’s happened? They’ve dropped the bill.”

Mr Miliband also taunted the Tories calling for an alliance with UKIP, telling MPs: “They used to call them clowns. Now they want to join the circus.”

But Mr Cameron said the plan for plain packaging had not been dropped, insisting ministers were still “looking very closely” at it.

And he said he was determined to tackle the problem of cheap alcohol, including cans of lager selling for 25p, adding: “We will be coming forward with a package of measures.”

Speaking afterwards, the prime minister’s spokesman said: “Lynton Crosby has had no impact whatsoever on the Queen's Speech. Mr Crosby hasn't lobbied the prime minister on anything.”

Meanwhile, No.10 was forced to admit that its well-trailed clampdown on the benefits that can be claimed by immigrants may not be on the statute book by next January.

That is the date when controls will be lifted on the numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians who can come to the UK are lifted – piling pressure on Mr Cameron to act.

The spokesman said a consultation must first be held on plans to fine private landlords who fail to check the immigration status of tenants.

It is also unclear how the Government will recover the costs of treating migrants on the NHS. They may be forced to pay a ‘bond’ before receiving a visa.

Declining to say when the Immigration Bill will be published, the spokesman said: “The important thing is to get the implementation right and that’s the process we are going to undertake.”

In the Commons, Mr Cameron attacked Labour for allowing people who “didn't speak a word of English to come here and attend colleges that turned out to be entirely bogus”.

And he said: “We are fixing this mess. Much more to do, but good progress in clearing up the mess that they made.”