Much of this morning has been taken up with Labour figures trying to get across they aren’t actively considering the story on the front of today’s Times — that Labour is planning to deny child benefit to mothers who refuse to give their children the MMR jab. I have just chaired a fringe meeting on the Big Society and asked him afterwards if the story was true. He told me that the idea was originally floated by ‘Kevin Rudd in Australia’ and was ‘never part of the Labour policy review’. Cruddas also suggested the One Nation vaccination idea was ‘an interesting idea’ but just one of ‘loads of ideas put to me’.
This story falls into the trap of journalese lingo. Was Cruddas considering it? Over to Rob Hutton and his guide to journalese in his new book:
‘The all-purpose unfalsifiable public policy story. No one will ever be able to convincingly deny that they’ve considered something.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in