Mordaunt Takes Tobacco Job, No Conflict Found

Penny Mordaunt, a politician so fine,
Took a role with British American Tobacco's line.
A transformation advisory board seat to claim,
With a focus on harm reduction, no need to explain.

She'd test the company's strategy, a cigarette-free quest,
To reduce combustible products, and be at her best.
The company's goal, a smokeless world to create,
By 2035, a predominantly smokeless state.

But first, she had to clear it with Acoba's might,
The watchdog that checks politicians' post-government light.
They looked at the job, and her past decisions too,
To see if it was a reward, or just something new.

Acoba said the risk was limited, no unfair gain,
And Mordaunt had no access to insider information to obtain.
She'd been out of office for five months, a gap so wide,
A clean slate, no conflicts of interest to hide.

She promised not to lobby, and Acoba agreed,
But warned her to stay away from government deeds.
No direct engagement, or risks would arise,
Under the government's rules, no compromise.