Red Pepper's Election Blues

Down with the kids?

Jamie Oliver vs. Bernard Matthews KO. Today Labour launches its Children’s Manifesto and the headlines are promising healthy and appetising school meals. A victory for the TV chef over the turkey farmer, then, whose ‘bootiful’ Turkey Twizzlers were condemned as ‘cheap, processed junk’ by Oliver in his recent hit TV show Jamie’s School Dinners. A very welcome move (there, I said it!) but the Manifesto is characteristically unspecific about whether more money will be spent on achieving a healthy new diet. At the moment, the budget for school meals can fall as low as 37p per meal in England,compared to almost £1 in Scotland.

It's not all good news for children though. The Woodcraft Folk recently had its funding cut by the government, in what appears to be retribution for its role in the anti-war movement. The organisation, which was set up 80 years ago by Labour supporters who thought the Scouts and Guides were too militaristic, is now threatened with cuts to its widely respected educational and outdoor activities programmes. OR

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Election Blues

Welcome to Red Pepper's 2005 election blog. Sit tight, strap in, and hold on: it's going to be a bumpy ride. Over the next few weeks we'll bring you non-partisan coverage from an environmentalist and left perspective from across the country. But we need your help:

* Take the Red Pepper Doorstep Challenge. What election promises have been dropped through your door? Who's canvassing in your local area? Or maybe you're on the campaign trail yourself - what have people been saying? Let us know.

* The alternative election debate. From the arms trade to media ownership, there's a serious policy agenda that's not being debated. We'll draw attention to some of the missing issues. We also want your comments

* Media watch. What have your local papers been saying? Let us know. We'll also be watching the telly, reading the national papers and commenting on stories that you might've missed... as well as some that are impossible to ignore.

* Election Night Live. We'll have through the night coverage, with exclusive updates from across the country. If you're an activist or a candidate then we want to hear from you.

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