UK Election round-up
Labour candidate irks own mother
A Labour candidate in Norfolk drew the opprobrium of Jack Straw, Alastair Campbell and his own mother after he described Gordon Brown as “the worst prime minister we have had in this country”.
Manish Sood also said Brown’s policies were a “total disaster”.
Sood’s mother, a Labour councillor in Leicester, said she was “very angry” with her son over his comments. Straw described Sood as “completely maverick”, adding: “You get this at every election. I don’t think it’s a matter of any purport at all.”
Campbell posted on Twitter: “Should not get too wound up by bizarre ramblings of candidate in unwinnable seat. Attention seeking takes many forms.”
Gay exorcism claims ‘false and insulting’
David Cameron has defended a Conservative candidate over reports that she established a church which tried to “cure” homosexuality. The Observer alleged that Philippa Stroud, who is standing in a south London constituency, founded a church in 1989 which taught that “demons” within gay people could be exorcised through prayer.
“She believes in gay equality,” Cameron said yesterday. She had made “a very clear statement to say she was completely misreported”, he added.
Stroud’s statement said the idea that she is prejudiced against gay people was “false and insulting”.
“I make no apology for being a committed Christian,” she said.
“However, it is categorically untrue that I believe homosexuality to be an illness, and I am deeply offended that the Observer has suggested otherwise.”
Brown proves to be a YouTube hit
Gordon Brown’s much praised Monday address to Citizens UK, a charity that promotes community alliances, is showing all the signs of becoming a minor YouTube hit.
The address, which one commentator described as “barnstorming”, had been viewed more than 49,000 times last night.
“Where has this side of him been?” asked one poster on YouTube.
Another said: “Gordon Brown is at his best when he’s passionate and angry. If he showed more of that side of himself, he would be more respected.”
Hain hoping campaign ends on a high note
Former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain is clearly biding his time. A BBC reporter told Hain in Cardiff yesterday that he was struggling to find a highlight for Labour for a series of clips he is putting together to show campaign highs and lows for each of the parties contesting the election in Wales. “The highs are still to come,” Hain said with a smile.