The tormented ten

After months of speculation John Major has announced that the general elect ion will be on May1. The day after his announcement, The Sun, Britain's best selling tabloid, switched its allegiance from Major to Tony Blair. It was body blow to the Conservatives-The Sun had palyed a crucial part in their 1992 election campaign-but it was nothing compared with the publication, two days later, of aninterim report on what's become known as the Cash for Questions scandal.

It all began last year, when Sir Gordon Downey was appointed by the government to investigate claims made in The Guardian newspaper that Tim Smith and Neil Hamilton, both former ministers, had received payments from Mohammed Al Fayed, the Egyptian owner of Harrods, in return for asking questions in the House of Commons. The payments were made through a lobbyist called Ian Greer.

Greer has named other MPs who received payments, all of whom were meant to be investigated by Sir Gordon. Unfortunately, he was not able to complete his report before Major called the election-prompting cries of foul play, Instead, Sir Gordon has issued an interim, one-page statement which cleared fifteen MPs.

A further ten-including Hamilton and Smith-have yet to be investigated by Sir Gordon. They all deny any impropriety, and are incensed that they are now being percieved by the electorate as guilty until proved innocent. There is particular sympathy for one of them, Sri Lanka-born Nirj Deva, the 48-year-old conservative memeber for Brentford and Isleworth, who is accused of receiving 500 pounds in the 1987 election. "It was a contribution to the local party's 'fighting fund'," Jim O'Farrell, Deva's agent, told THE WEEK. "Nirj knew nothing about it."

Deva failed to win the seat, but he was successful in 1992 in another constituency. Understandably, he is deeply upset that a question mark now hangs over his head. He has a narrow majority and it's the last thing he needs out onthe hustings.

 

Veggie good

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For the past five years Britons have been encouraged to eat vegetarian food in March. Known as 'Veggi Month', the campaign is run by the Animal Aid Society; 1997 looks set to be their most successful year yet, thanks largely to generous support from Britain's Indian community.

The organisers decided the best way to convert people to vegetarianism was to tempt them with Indian food. Restaurants up and down the country duly joined in the Spice of Life promotion, giving out recipes (baingan bartha proved particularlypopular) and spreading Anilmal Aid's message. Indian High Commissioner L.M. Singhvi gave his personal backing. "For me vegetarian food is particularly palatable because its primary ingredient is compassion," he said.

"It's been such a good response," says Gillian Egan of Animal Aid of the campaign. "Indian food is now the fastest growing retail area in the food market, worth 750 pounds million."

 

It's biological

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It's a confusing time for British males at the mement. They are supposed to be New Men-good at looking after the baby, content to earn less than their wives and, most significantly, adept at the housework. A crecent report confirmed how well they are doing: men who are married to working wives do an average of 13 hours housework week. But now, it seems, women want the mop and bucket back again.

To mark the 75th anniversary of Good Housekeeping magazine, a new survey reveals that women are spending a staggering 25 hours a week on chores around the home. Women, even famous ones, are turning away from career-oriented lives in favour of housework.

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