The Contented Politician

It has been reported in some sections of the media that Gina Ford is writing a political blog. This is not the case. The Contented Baby team, with the help of some of our website members, will be putting together regular round-ups of the main events and issues that are likely to interest members in the run-up to the general election.

Gina, meanwhile, is concentrating on all things Contented Baby-related. To read her latest news, please click here.

Weekly Round-up (3)

Much of last week was strangely quiet, as politicians took their last chance for a holiday before the general election. It was definitely the calm before the storm. Gordon Brown fired the starting gun last weekend, unveiling Labour's election slogan: "A Future Fair for All". He hopes to persuade voters that his party has a more positive vision for the next few years than the Conservatives, who have warned of an 'age of austerity' as they cut Britain's crippling deficit. For the next few months, Labour will be trying to sound as upbeat as possible, focusing on the future rather than their last 12 years in power.

Before the latest bullying debacle, more of which later, opinion polls showed that Gordon Brown's party was continuing to narrow the gap with the Conservatives, and that his "personal rating" is improving. This cheered his weary troops, some of whom now believe there's "all to play for", although the latest allegations may cause mouths to droop again. 

The economy continues to dominate. Last weekend twenty economists wrote to the Sunday Times criticising Labour's approach to the financial crisis and suggesting that Tory plans to cut the deficit sooner rather than later are correct. After a frantic ring round, however, Labour managed to trump that with a letter to the Financial Times from no fewer than 60 economic experts, backing chancellor Alastair Darling's strategy. Who is right? It will be the big theme of the election.

For the Tories, polling day can't come soon enough. Sometimes it seems they're almost too enthusiastic, messing up on the small print as they rush to get their point across.

This week, it was teenage pregnancy statistics. They published a document claiming that 54 per cent of girls fall pregnant before the age of 18 in the most deprived parts of the country. Embarrassingly, they got the decimal point in the wrong place: the correct figure is 54 per 1000. It's their second blunder with statistics this month, and they know they can't afford many more such mistakes.

By the end of the week, David Cameron was back on the front foot, hitting out at the "inappropriate sexualisation" of children. Many parents are worried about girls being encouraged to grow up before their time, with shops peddling make-up, mini skirts and padded bras to under-tens. Teachers have expressed concern about girls' magazines that "glamorise" promiscuity. The Tory leader says parents should be able to complain about offensive marketing tactics used by businesses on a new website.

As MPs from all parties try to put the expenses scandal behind them, one Tory MP risked stirring up public resentment all over again. Just when you thought you'd heard the last about the cost of cleaning moats and providing duck houses on their estates, Sir Nicholas Winterton stuck his head back above the parapet to declare that MPs should not have to travel second-class on trains. It's not the message his party leader is trying to convey to voters at the moment, and perhaps Mr Cameron is quietly relieved that Sir Nicholas is stepping down as an MP.

For the LibDems, the big question is still which party they will support if there is a hung parliament. According to a report last week, they will back whoever will support their big priorities. Apparently, they're focusing on extracting four key concessions: Extra funds for education through a "pupil premium" for disadvantaged children; scrapping tax on earnings below £10,000; overhauling the banking system; and changing the voting system. This four point plan is expected to be the basis of their election campaign.

Returning to the allegations of bullying at No 10, the cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, is under pressure to launch a formal investigation into Gordon Brown's treatment of his staff after an anti-bullying helpline revealed it has received several complaints from Downing Street staff. This follows publication by The Observer of allegations that Gordon Brown has mistreated staff. More of this story and its effects next week.

Finally, newly-published Ministry of Defence papers last week revealed that the RAF investigated a series of UFO sightings over Tory MP Michael Howard's house just before the 1997 general election. A UFO "monitoring group" in East Kent saw a "large triangular-shaped flying craft" over his property. Fellow Tory MP Ann Widdecombe once famously claimed Mr Howard had "something of the night" about him. But if there were aliens over his house, they clearly decided not to abduct him. Should they come back on the eve of this election, which politician would you like to see whisked off to another galaxy?

More soon...

The ContentedBaby.com Team

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