and i thought the tories were bad...sheesh...

[Guest guest]

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The Guardian

 

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UK

 

Labour's prize idea to use McDonald's

 

Labour MPs have been advised by party leaders to approach

McDonald's for prizes in constituency competitions to bolster

popularity.

 

A parliamentary Labour party note circulated to backbenchers

suggests they ask the burger chain to provide up to ?300 worth of

meal vouchers as incentives to schools to persuade pupils to

design Westminster Christmas cards to be posted to voters.

 

The document distributed by Labour's parliamentary campaign

team based in the House of Commons - headed " preparing and

sharing " - is further evidence of the party's close relations

with the controversial US fast food giant.

 

Based on a draft prepared by junior industry minister, Nigel

Griffiths, it says " sponsorship is crucial " to encourage

participation and cover costs.

 

" Get the local cinema and your local McDonald's to provide

vouchers - everyone wins, " says the note.

 

McDonald's said it was unaware of the advice to Labour MPs

but added that it had been asked, and provided, prizes for a

Christmas card competition organised last year by Tottenham MP

David Lammy.

 

A McDonald's spokeswoman said the firm was " happy to help " if

approached by individual MPs. The document emerged on the day the

Guardian disclosed that McDonald's is to spend ?15,000 sponsoring

a reception at Labour's conference hosted by party chairman

Charles Clarke after the firm was assured Tony Blair would

attend.

 

Leftwing MPs and union leaders expressed opposition to the

involvement of a company seen as a symbol of the unacceptable

face of globalisation by anti-corporate protesters.

 

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