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Lib Dems slammed
17th May 2006
The British Dental Health Foundation has accused the Liberal Democrats of being ‘grossly irresponsible’ for advising election candidates to get children to hand out political literature in exchange for sweets. The Lib Dems’ official local election guide advises candidates to recruit children from council estates. It tells them ‘to go into the middle of a council estate’ and ask ‘the local kids’ for help delivering leaflets. It then urges them ‘to proceed Pied Piper-like round the estate doling out badges and toffees and leaflets’. Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF said: ‘At a time when people are finally waking up to the importance of providing children with a healthy balanced diet, I am amazed that an established political party should deem it acceptable to bribe children with unhealthy sugary sweets.’ He added that it is often children on council estates ‘who need to be educated on the importance of a good oral health routine and healthy diet more than anyone else and certainly not encouraged to eat sweets.’ However the Lib Dems defended the election guide. Their chief executive, Chris Rennard, called it a ‘ridiculous rehash of absurd allegations’ and said: ‘All political parties find that young people are often willing deliverers of party literature.’ • Frequent consumption of sweets is a major cause of tooth decay which currently affects half of children in the UK, according to the BDHF.
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