Election leaflets - Labour

As with the Conservatives I received two leaflets from Labour, but both of them were for the European elections. I have had some local election leaflets simple printed A4 stuff I'll look at those and others later.

The first a three-part fold-out has a picture of a family and a quote about how only Gordon Brown can get us through these tough times and that only Labour are on the side of hard working families. Missing a hyphen there - hard-working families, that is families that work hard rather than working families that are hard.

Next page is an introduction to our hardworking (no space or hyphen this time) MEPs Michael and Neena - yep never heard of them either. Three points first them being hardworking, don't vote for the BNP and thirdly do vote on the 4th otherwise you're just helping the BNP. Hmm I guess they don't like the BNP.

Fold-out and boy is this a text-heavy leaflet - nice they're not dumbing down, but I don't think they're doing themselves any favours with the density of text. Photo of 'our' Labour Team never heard of any of them before. Heading - "Never before has Europe mattered so much to the West Midlands" echoing comments when has Europe ever mattered to the West Midlands?

Text block of the extra cash and Mortgage Protection Schemes, guarantees that every 16-18 will have a place in college, training or in an apprenticeship. Except the former is guaranteed anyway and how do you force companies to take on staff?

Bottom of the page and a quote from Gordon with, and I'm sorry, a very insincere looking smile. Not that it is insincere t just looks like it, a good photo he doesn't make.

Next page "Protecting Workers" - Don't mention the banks! Too late. They're also adding in an environmental message with talk about 400,000 new jobs (previous page) and a low carbon economy. Oh and Labour fought for the five weeks paternity and maternity rights which so pleased employers.

"Fair rules for all" can't... stop... laughing. Oh they're talking about immigration and an Australian points system. "Migrants will also be expected to support themselves, learn English, pay taxes and obey the law before they can become full British citizens" or they could just claim asylum and not bother. Oh and Labour supported the European Arrest Warrent so a criminal in the UK can be arrested in France despite not breaking any of France's laws; and extradition comes into play where exactly?

Photos of Neena and Michael looking at motorbikes, photo of Michael, Mohammad, and Neena (pushed to the edge) at Coventry Transport Museum.

Next page "Tackling Climate Change" told you they were going 'green' carbon reduction targets put into law - well you know what I think about that, energy efficiency - imposed from above rather than supported from below. oh and jobs jobs jobs.

"On Your Side" - help to support families, extra child tax credit, tax cuts and VAT cuts. Well no family (in the sense they use) and no children. The tax cuts aren't exactly mind-blowing and the VAT cuts don't seem to have made much difference.

Photo Michael and Neena outside the first new hospital built in Brum in 70 years and a photo of Michael, Claire, Neena, and Anthony next to a Spitfire mosaic with subtext "winning the fight for Britain's future - so no plays on patriotism there then.

Back page - Conservatives - boo, Libe Dems - boo; vote Labour - yay. Also nice they reprint part of the ballot paper and show you where to put your cross. I'd say this was a little insulting, but I can't as I think it's a good idea.

Okay next leaflet a shiny two-fold A4 - the Union Flag and "Winning the fight for Britain's future" across it. Hmm first a Spitfire not a flag, subtle. Oh and this is FSC Mixed Source, again green screws up the colour scheme.

Fold out and it folds out the correct way. Top page is a photo shoot, hope they didn't claim the cost on expenses. Photos come with back-slapping quotes.

Bottom page - Protecting Workers - hmm this is familiar; Fair Rules for All yes oddly familiar.

Back page and once again "Labour: Winning the fight for Britain's future" is this the new slogan? "Labour stands up for hard-working British people" hyphenated this time. Oh and just time for a quick stab at the Conservatives. Again the ballot paper example.

Hmm I'll say the A4 leaflet is good if you want a quick flick with the three-fold leaflet giving some more details. A nice two-part advert from the Labour party, I'm not keen at the quick stabs at other parties, and as with all the Party leaflets nothing about the current crisis.

Still same old same old.