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Paul Evans takes a look at how the Tories could tackle the obesity crises
Cakes and Ale
This week David Cameron took his second summer holiday. In July he wandered Cornish beaches gazing into the middle distance as only the ruling classes can. Meanwhile, Brown glumly fed ducks, all of which doubtless choked to death on whatever bread he offered them.
Now Dave is taking his actual holiday, sunning it up off the coast of Turkey. Rupa Huq thought he was a wally for missing this year’s mini Notting Hill riot, swiping:
“Typical of Cam the Sham who is not only duplicitous but has a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
While Cameron bronzed, his Tories fixed their gaze on the expanding paunches of Britain, and announced a working group to re-examine our approach to public health - and in particular consider ways to make us more responsible for our own expanding waistlines.
Following his speech at the think-tank Reform, Andrew Lansley revealed that he got fitter with Men’s Health magazine, while on Comment is Free he argued that:
“If we are going to defuse the time-bomb of obesity-related ill-health, we must change the behaviour of adults today, as well as our children.”
Letters from a Tory found the rhetoric promising but the substance lacking. Penning a note to the Conservative health spokesman, he wrote:
“You will also encourage firms to cut the size of ready meals and use Olympic stars as role models to encourage young people to live more healthily. Rather bizarrely, you insist that these initiatives are “not about telling people what to do” - surely that is precisely what they are intended to do? “
He went on to chide Lansley for proposing to withdraw support for ‘traffic light’ markings on food products, a system he finds: “incredibly useful” during the weekly shop. Elsewhere, Paul Walter on Liberal Burblings smelled pies, noting that:
“The only Tory front benchers I've seen who look under 25% [body fat ratio] are William Hague and Dominic Grieve.”
Pass the gravy.
What have we learned this Week?
Tavish Scott has been elected as the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. The announcement prompted Edinburgh Labour Councillor Ewan Aitken to recall hearing that Scott, with fellow Shetlanders, had once descended on Holyrood dressed as Vikings...
Across the Pond
The Dems have been in Denver and neologisms are abroad, as PUMAs (Party Unity My Ass) took to stalking the Convention. Jill on Blogher took a cool look at the anger boiling over amongst Hillary supporters, a small faction of whom have declared fealty to John McCain.
Videos of the Week
Dave Stewart has co-written a song with Bono, in support of Barack Obama. The video features the likes of Whoopi Goldberg and Barry Manilow looking thoughtful. It is awful. If Obama publicly declared that he found the song to be absolutely rubbish, he would surely command the respect and understanding of all Americans. He’s too polite though.
Dave, this is not what sweet dreams are made of.
Quote of the Week
“I thought we are liberals, that what other people do is their business as long as it does not break the law or infringe on other people’s liberties.”
Lunar Talks advises fellow Lib Dems against slamming Cameron’s holiday plans.
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