Tuesday, June 10, 2008

I've got a cousin called Kevin

Fantastic news for men in Australia. No, it's not Shane Warne's victory with the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. But their new prime minister Kevin Rudd has announced a men's health policy to coincide with this year's Men's Health week. Blokes will be encouraged to have check-ups at their GPs and money has been made available for prostate cancer, bowel cancer and suicide prevention. Rudd, of course, is leader of the Labor Party (never mind the spelling, look at the policies.)

Now, we do have some of these things already in the UK thanks to our own correctly-spelt Labour government. Indeed, from the gender duty to bowel cancer screening to the minimum wage and trade union rights, this government has done a fair bit to improve the health of men but what we don't always have here is a sense of a coordinated policy. It doesn't cost a lot of money, it's simply a question of political will. The perfect way to get a Labour government that's in danger of losing its direction back on the rails again. Come on Gordon, it's time to copy Kevin.

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