Healthy Democracy

The Health Secretary, whose qualifications for his post include a directorship in a marketing company which sold junk food, has been busily assuring the multinationals that they will not be excluded from the Big Society's efforts to nudge Britain into a healthier lifestyle.

The first meeting of the Public Health Responsibility Deal three months ago was attended by sales personnel for chocolate, Turkey Twizzlers, alcoholic beverages, non-Cabinet industrial fats and the British Hospitality Association.

Since none of these are poor people, the Government is thought to favour a voluntary approach to regulation.

"It is an absurdly paranoid conspiracy theory to believe that international corporations have no interest in the health of the British public," said a spokesbeing.

"Indeed, it is only the Stalinist nanny state interposed under the previous socialist regime which has prevented many companies from emphasising the natural, genetically enhanced healthiness of their products."

Politicians of all parties agree on the importance of tackling Britain's poor record on public health. The Government believes this is best done by cutting the NHS and implementing the recommendations of the tobacco lobby.

The Public Health Responsibility Deal meeting was also attended by nutrition researchers and health campaigners, but these are not considered likely to be major party donors.