Exclusive: Move signals change of policy that was causing health groups to withdraw from conferences and disquiet within media brand

• ‘Crisis issue’: the unease at Economist over parent group’s tobacco links

The division of the Economist’s parent group that has come under fire over its commercial ties with the world’s three biggest tobacco companies is to stop doing any “new work” with tobacco companies.

The decision follows a Guardian investigation which revealed that Economist Impact, a division separate from the newspaper that runs events and includes paid-for and sponsored content on its website, was forced to cancel a high-profile cancer conference due to a backlash from speakers and organisations over its ties with big tobacco.