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Tories urged to create holidays Tory group rejects holidays call
(about 1 hour later)
A Conservative government should create more bank holidays and paid paternity leave, a policy group has been told. A Conservative Party policy group has rejected proposals to create three more bank holidays and extend paid paternity leave to three years.
Other ideas submitted to the "quality of life" group include promoting family life and extra anti-noise pollution measures, the Daily Telegraph reports. Other ideas submitted to the "quality of life" review included promoting family life and "tranquility maps" to cut inner-city noise pollution.
The TUC said Tory backing for more bank holidays would be a "real boost" to its campaign for a UK-wide "Community Day". But vice-chairman Zac Goldsmith said it was "entirely wrong" to suggest the group would back these policies.
But the Tories said all the submissions were "just ideas" and "nowhere near" making the policy group's final report. The group is expected to publish its report within the next few weeks.
'Green taxes''Green taxes'
The Quality of Life Challenge group, led by former Cabinet minister John Gummer, has received thousands of proposals and is due to publish its findings next month. The Quality of Life Challenge, led by former Cabinet minister John Gummer, has looked at thousands of submissions.
According to a leaked document, there was a call for three extra bank holidays, with the public deciding what they should celebrate. Among these was a call for three extra bank holidays, with the public deciding what they should celebrate.
The Telegraph also said a submission had been received that fathers should get three years' paid paternity leave. Another submission was received that fathers should get three years' paid paternity leave.
Other ideas put forward are said to include compulsory community service, adverts promoting family life and more environmental taxes.Other ideas put forward are said to include compulsory community service, adverts promoting family life and more environmental taxes.
'All-party support' The TUC's head of economic and social affairs, Adam Lent, said it would have been a "real boost" to its campaign for a nationwide "Community Day" had the Conservatives adopted the proposals for more bank holidays.
Even if the group adopts the submissions, they do not have to become party policy. But a Conservative Party spokeswoman said: "Categorically, none of these ideas are going to be in the [working group's] report."
The TUC's head of economic and social affairs, Adam Lent, said: "The TUC and voluntary organisations who are campaigning for a new Community Day bank holiday in October to celebrate and encourage community involvement and volunteering have always sought all-party support. She added: "These are not going to happen."
"If reports that Mr Gummer's policy review will back Community Day are true, then this will be a real boost to the campaign." Mr Goldsmith, who is also an environmental campaigner, said reports that the policies might be supported in its report had been "entirely wrong".
But a Conservative Party spokeswoman said: "There have been thousands of submissions to the policy group. He added: "We're due to hand over the full document some time in September, and I would be very happy to discuss any aspect of it then."
"These aren't anywhere near the final document. At the moment they are just ideas.
"That's the whole point of having the policy group throwing up thousands of ideas."
In a speech last year, Conservative leader David Cameron said: "Improving our society's sense of well-being is, I believe, the central political challenge of our times."In a speech last year, Conservative leader David Cameron said: "Improving our society's sense of well-being is, I believe, the central political challenge of our times."
In another speech to the party's annual conference, he urged delegates to "let sunshine win the day", with the Conservatives becoming the party of optimism.In another speech to the party's annual conference, he urged delegates to "let sunshine win the day", with the Conservatives becoming the party of optimism.
He added that the party had alienated voters by "banging on" about Europe and tax cuts.He added that the party had alienated voters by "banging on" about Europe and tax cuts.
The quality of life group is one of several set up by Mr Cameron.The quality of life group is one of several set up by Mr Cameron.
Last week, the Competitive Challenge review suggested abolishing inheritance tax, which shadow chancellor George Osborne said he would look at "very closely".Last week, the Competitive Challenge review suggested abolishing inheritance tax, which shadow chancellor George Osborne said he would look at "very closely".