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Public Services for All > Published by Will Straw, April 12th 2010 at 3:10 pm

Cameron’s hypocrisy on “sick” leaflet

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The row over Labour’s direct mail on cancer has provoked stern words from the Tories. Three points need addressing: is early diagnosis a legitimate policy priority, were the leaflets accurate, and are the Conservatives justified in calling them “sick”? On the first two, the answer appears to be a resounding yes while after a Tory leaflet featuring a machete dripping with blood, David Cameron is guilty of hypocrisy.

The Labour party’s manifesto has a number of pledges around cancer. Among them the party says:

“The cancer guarantee will ensure that all patients see a cancer specialist within two weeks of GP referral”

The focus on early diagnosis is prompted by the National Clinical Director for Cancer, Professor Mike Richards. Late last year the BBC reported that, “The NHS in England must get better at diagnosing cancers at an earlier stage if it is to continue to improve survival rates”. It went on to quote Professor Richards who said:

“People living in most parts of this country are not getting diagnosed as early as they should. As I have already highlighted, raising awareness and promoting early diagnosis are essential if we are to bring cancer survival rates up to the level of the best of Europe.”

Dizzy Thinks posted a blog this morning on Macmillan Cancer Support’s three Manifesto Calls. As he points out, this does not include “another target for entry” such as Labour’s early diagnosis pledge. But a spokeswoman at Macmillan told me:

“It’s not that we don’t think that early diagnosis is important, it’s just that Macmillan is concerned with caring for people after diagnosis.”

Meanwhile, the Cancer Research UK website says:

Thousands of people beat cancer every year. Doing so is easier when cancer’s diagnosed at an early stage as treatment is often simpler and more likely to be effective. So finding cancer early can make a real difference.

And what of the accuracy of Labour’s claims in the leaflets? The leaflets featured in the Sunday Times outlined that, “the Tories want to scrap your right to see a cancer specialist within 2 weeks of GP referral”. Channel 4 Fact Check is clear about the veracity of this claim:

“We’ve seen some Labour leaflets playing pretty loose with the truth, but on this occasion they’re grounded in fact as the Conservatives have promised to scrap Labour’s maximum waiting time targets.”

The leaflets themselves have clearly offended some people and that is regrettable. Right-wing blogger MTPT has taken the moral high ground and called for election leaflets to be regulated. But David Cameron is hypocritical in calling them “sick“. An inflammatory anti-immigration leaflet was distributed last month in the constituency of Conservative Andrew Rosindell while yesterday, Left Outside reveal a disgusting poster of a bloodied machete with the headline “Labour’s cuts: violent crime up 44% under Labour”. Unlike Labour’s cancer mailshot, the Tory leaflet is factually incorrect. Chris Grayling was “rebuked” earlier this year by the UK Statistics Authority for making a similar statement. The Chair Sir Michael Scholar said the British Crime Survey was a “more reliable” measure than the numbers the Conservatives used. It found people’s experience of violent crime had fallen by 50 per cent since 1995.

  • http://twitter.com/charliewhelan/status/12048253870 charlie whelan

    RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron's hypocrisy on "sick" leaflet http://bit.ly/bChame

  • http://twitter.com/goodoldmj/status/12048628804 Martin Johnston

    RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron's hypocrisy on "sick" leaflet http://bit.ly/bChame #reasonsnottovotetory

  • http://twitter.com/chrisplol/status/12049234962 Chris Paul

    RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron's hypocrisy on "sick" leaflet http://bit.ly/bChame

  • http://twitter.com/lizalou1/status/12050624139 Liz Forster

    RT @wdjstraw: @dizzy_thinks Have posted on the cancer leaflets. Macmillan told me they're not the right people on early diagnosis. http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/sspcampsie/status/12050883512 SSP Campsie

    RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron's hypocrisy on "sick" leaflet http://bit.ly/bChame

  • http://twitter.com/meadwaj/status/12048160679 James Meadway

    RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron's hypocrisy on "sick" leaflet http://bit.ly/bChame

  • http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/12048495615 Will Straw

    @dizzy_thinks Have posted on the cancer leaflets. Macmillan told me they're not the right people on early diagnosis. http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • Mr. Sensible

    Will, I agree.

    If there was offence caused that is of course unacceptable.

    But the substance about the Tories wanting to scrap the maximum waiting time is very worrying.

  • Bill Kristol-Balls

    Can we add that to the hypocrisy from Tory bloggers and friends who are throwing a collective hissy fit about the Lib Dems VAT poster but were almost universally silent about their own sides Death Tax / Tombstone effort.

  • http://www.shamik.co.uk Shamik Das

    Here’s an earlier example of the campaigning style of the Tories:

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2001/apr/27/race.world2

    If that isn’t “sick” I don’t what is.

  • http://twitter.com/ollielawson/status/12054686729 Ollie Lawson

    RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron's hypocrisy on "sick" leaflet http://bit.ly/bChame

  • joe fd

    It appears not only the Tories who are mongering fear in North London, thanks to the excellent straight choice.

    http://www.thestraightchoice.org/leaflet.php?q=788

    In fact Haringey Lib Dems are literally dealing in fear. They claim that fear of crime has soared, whereas again the ONS-approved British Crime Survey shows people worry less now than they did in 1997!

    http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1109vol1.pdf table 5.07 page 113.

    This dog whistle also contradicts the Lib Dems’ progressive national message that politicians should not posture on knife crime sentences.

    http://www.libdems.org.uk/press_releases_detail.aspx?title=Labour_should_stop_posturing_on_penalties_on_knife_crime_%e2%80%93_Huhne&pPK=6249dad1-f222-40cd-aa04-176eabbfa3d8

  • joe fd

    More to the point why is the cancer leaflet on the news and not the machete one?

  • Bill4

    “Here’s an earlier example of the campaigning style of the Tories:

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2001/apr/27/race.world2

    If that isn’t “sick” I don’t what is.”

    Shamik,

    I accuse you of being an affront to the well being of politics. The strap line of evidence based blogging is complete rubbish when you read the anti Tory diatribes emanating from your biased keyboard. You insult the intelligence of anyone reading your tripe on a daily basis.

    You treat the readership as if they are thick, well I am really sorry but we are not. I am formulating a very strong opinion on you though.

  • John77

    Has GB actually decided how he will find enough cancer specialists to diagnose everyone within two weeks given seasonal and random variations in the number of people visiting the doctor with symptoms that might possibly be due to cancer and what they will do during the slack periods?
    No?
    Oh, sorry – I forgot the digital economy. He will analyse the demand flow and fly a jumbo-jet of cancer specialists over from India during every demand spike, leaving their countrymen to die, in order to carry out a standard NHS diagnosis on British patients, a majority of whom do not actually have cancer.

  • http://twitter.com/ccat446/status/12064591819 Chris Kelsey

    RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron's hypocrisy on "sick" leaflet http://bit.ly/bChame

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/politics-summary-tuesday-april-13th/ Politics Summary: Tuesday, April 13th | Left Foot Forward

    [...] postcard on cancer policies. Meanwhile, in a story missed by the mainstream media a Tory candidate sent leaflets showing a blood drenched machete and a misleading statement: “Labour’s cuts: violent [...]

  • Anon E Mouse

    Bill4 – I have been repeating this for months to no avail on this site.

    I ask you directly Will Straw have you not read a book called Nudge or even consider that it is a better way of presenting a message?

    You really do need to get a grip of this blog Will – we are now into the General Election will you PLEASE sort this matter out urgently – it really looks bad and the attitude will cost the Labour Party much needed votes – this is not a football match you know…

  • http://twitter.com/joefd/status/12121062331 j farrington-douglas

    @BBCNewsnight this nasty LibDem leaflet: http://bit.ly/bwK8Oh doesnt quite tally with Nice Huhne message http://bit.ly/biqZ4e @thesc

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/same-old-tories-have-missed-their-progressive-moment/ “Same old Tories” have missed their progressive moment | Left Foot Forward

    [...] The Tory leaflet, reported by Left Foot Forward, which showed a machete drenched in blood and the false, [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/london-crime-tories-make-it-up-as-they-go-along/ London crime: Tories make it up as they go along | Left Foot Forward

    [...] this week Tory PPC for Edmonton, Andrew Charalambous, was criticised for distributing a leaflet featuring a bloodied machete and the misleading slogan “Labour cuts: violent crime up 44% [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/camerons-dodgy-cancer-stats/ Cameron’s dodgy cancer stats | Left Foot Forward

    [...] He clearly wants Britain to have a worse cancer record than Bulgaria in the same way that he wants violent crime to be up 44 per cent and for one-in-two teenagers to be pregnant in deprived areas. Put quite [...]

  • http://bestblogs.labourhome.org/2010/04/12/cameron%e2%80%99s-hypocrisy-on-%e2%80%9csick%e2%80%9d-leaflet/ Cameron’s hypocrisy on “sick” leaflet « The best Labour blogs

    [...] More… [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/look-left-the-week-in-fast-forward-16-04-10/ Look Left – The Week in Fast Forward | Left Foot Forward

    [...] Featherstone, who sent out inaccurate, scaremongering leaflets in a vain attempt to win votes. The Charalambous leaflet was particularly sickening, depicting a machete specked with blood under the headline [...]

  • http://twitter.com/ultra_fox/status/12658306620 Colin Hall

    RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/geeoharee/status/12658327158 Lauren G

    Took words out of my mouth RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/nickjbarlow/status/12658488553 Nick Barlow

    RT @chickyog: RT @jonnelledge: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/sketchybear/status/12658517612 James kindred

    RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege /via @pickledpolitics

  • http://twitter.com/alexsmith1982/status/12658745821 alexsmith1982

    LDs should retract all their posters in Islington > RT @wdjstraw Will Cameron retract blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/harbie90/status/12658786906 Andrew Harbison

    RT @alexsmith1982: LDs should retract all their posters in Islington > RT @wdjstraw Will Cameron retract blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/willc00per/status/12658820581 William Cooper

    RT @bencooper86: @gabyhinsliff I haven't see the Labour ones… But the Tories can't talk: http://bit.ly/bz0ege #leadersdebate

  • http://twitter.com/polkadotrock/status/12658940541 Amy Rushton

    RT @longwayround: Remember folks, the Tories don't do scaremongering. Unless it involves hung parliaments or machetes. http://bit.ly/bz0ege #leadersdebate

  • http://twitter.com/elloweez/status/12659028061 Eloise Davies

    RT @wdjstraw Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/ranceman/status/12658298789 Terry Greene

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/ranceman/status/12658298789 Terry Greene

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/nextleft/status/12658302487 Sunder Katwala

    RT @demsoc: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege #talkissues #leadersdebate < fair …

  • http://twitter.com/nextleft/status/12658302487 Sunder Katwala

    RT @demsoc: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege #talkissues #leadersdebate < fair …

  • http://twitter.com/saliltripathi/status/12658302468 Salil Tripathi

    @pickledpolitics But at least that poster is factual, no? http://bit.ly/bz0ege #leadersdebate

  • http://twitter.com/saliltripathi/status/12658302468 Salil Tripathi

    @pickledpolitics But at least that poster is factual, no? http://bit.ly/bz0ege #leadersdebate

  • http://twitter.com/ultra_fox/status/12658306620 Colin Hall

    RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/matthew_gabb/status/12658307548 Matthew Gabb

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/veganpanda/status/12658309264 Vegan Panda

    RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/on_jay/status/12658316099 Andrzej Moyseowicz

    RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/numerate/status/12658316586 Paula Thomas

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/leftbookclub/status/12658324632 LeftBookClub

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/simonbarrow/status/12658443877 Simon Barrow

    RT @Jon_Bartley: RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/simonbarrow/status/12658443877 Simon Barrow

    RT @Jon_Bartley: RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/markhanson/status/12658445820 MarkHanson

    @cathynewman what about this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/markhanson/status/12658445820 MarkHanson

    @cathynewman what about this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/5chincrack/status/12658454147 5 Chinese Crackers

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/5chincrack/status/12658454147 5 Chinese Crackers

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/catherinebuca/status/12658471426 catherine buca

    RT @chickyog: RT @jonnelledge: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/catherinebuca/status/12658471426 catherine buca

    RT @chickyog: RT @jonnelledge: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/heraclitus/status/12658478179 Alex

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/heraclitus/status/12658478179 Alex

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/nickjbarlow/status/12658488553 Nick Barlow

    RT @chickyog: RT @jonnelledge: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/alexjthomas/status/12658500188 Alex J. Thomas

    RT @chickyog: RT @jonnelledge: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/bencooper86/status/12658509927 Ben Cooper

    RT @Conorpope: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege #leadersdebate

  • http://twitter.com/stefanok/status/12658509853 Stephen

    RT @chickyog: RT @jonnelledge: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/andibarnes/status/12658582199 Andrew Barnes

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/greenrupertread/status/12658659464 RupertRead

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/mcgregormt/status/12658668103 Matthew McGregor

    RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/pferron/status/12658670670 pferron

    RT @pickledpolitics: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/saminus/status/12658712660 sam dowling

    RT @markhanson: @cathynewman what about this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/james_lelyveld/status/12658721436 james_lelyveld

    @catherine_mayer See Rt @chickyog & @jonnelledge: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/bencooper86/status/12658736662 Ben Cooper

    @gabyhinsliff I haven't see the Labour ones… But the Tories can't talk: http://bit.ly/bz0ege #leadersdebate

  • http://twitter.com/willc00per/status/12658820581 William Cooper

    RT @bencooper86: @gabyhinsliff I haven't see the Labour ones… But the Tories can't talk: http://bit.ly/bz0ege #leadersdebate

  • http://twitter.com/longwayround/status/12658872612 Luke Bosman

    Remember folks, the Tories don't do scaremongering. Unless it involves hung parliaments or machetes. http://bit.ly/bz0ege #leadersdebate

  • http://twitter.com/stephenmullen/status/12658914093 Stephen Mullen

    RT @longwayround: Remember folks, the Tories don't do scaremongering. Unless it involves hung parliaments or machetes. http://bit.ly/bz0ege #leadersdebate

  • http://twitter.com/scott1984_fp/status/12665716794 Scott A J Reynolds

    RT @tomebbutt: RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege

  • http://twitter.com/ianshine/status/12691354675 Ian Shine

    RT @wdjstraw: Will Cameron retract this blood drenched machete poster? http://bit.ly/bz0ege