Osborne says only the Conservatives offer progressive reforms

Addressing the think-tank Demos, George Osborne argued that the Conservative Party is now the most powerful vehicle for change in this country - and the best hope for radicals and progressives.

The Shadow Chancellor said Labour has abandoned progressive politics by "Pursuing a course of illiberalism , centralisation, fiscal incontinence and opposition to meaningful public service reform."

He added: "There is nothing progressive about out-of-control spending that the poorest end up having to pay for, and nothing fair about huge national debts that future generations are left having to pay for."

And George stressed, "We face a choice between progressive reform with the Conservatives and front line cuts under Labour."

Amended - SWIM4LIFE - Search for new swimming stroke

Are your kids bored of breaststroke? Fed-up of front crawl? Think they can do better than backstroke and butterfly?

Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham is calling on kids up and down the country to help Swim4Life create a brand new swimming stroke.

The national competition to kick off Swim4Life, part of Change4Life, asks youngsters to send their ideas, including a description of how they came up with their new stroke, a picture that inspired it and a suggested name.

The competition is all about getting kids moving in the water where their bodies have to work harder than on dry land - be it the dolphin, the penguin or the wriggly worm stroke.

Secretary of State, Andy Burnham said:

“Taking the kids swimming is a great way of making sure they’re moving around and having fun.

“We know that a huge number of people have taken the opportunity to swim for free since we introduced our free swimming scheme in April.

“I hope this Swim4Life competition will see even more families take the plunge and head to their local pool to think up an inventive new stroke.”

The swimming stroke competition marks the start of Swim4Life, a new part of Change4Life. Over the next few weeks selected local papers will carry a free Swim4Life poster crammed full of fun facts and swimming games, and parents will be able to download free swimming tips and advice for families on getting more active through swimming from http://www.nhs.uk/change4life

Swimming is a great way to the get the 60 active minutes kids need everyday. It’s also a great way for families to be active together over the summer months.

The Swim4Life competition will be judged by a panel of experts including coaching expert Ian Armiger. The winner will be announced by Andy Burnham in September, when he completes The Great North Swim 2009 in Lake Windermere.

Swimming expert Ian Armiger said:

“Asking children to invent a new stroke is a great idea, one that’ll get them more active in the water and using their imaginations.

“Swimming is a brilliant way for people of all ages to get moving, and thinking of a new stroke should be a perfect excuse to get to the pool this summer.”

The inventor of the winning stroke will win a trip to Alton Towers Water Park for a family of four (two adults and two children) including travel, overnight accommodation, entrance to the park and spending money.

(DH) Change4Life survey says: Too many children not getting enough exercise

Results from a massive survey of Change4Life families show that almost three quarters (72 per cent) of their children are not getting 60 minutes of daily activity outside of school. The campaign's new TV ad, which launches today, urges families get up and about more in an effort to cut levels of obesity.

The 'How Are The Kids Survey', launched in January, is the biggest national survey of children's diet and activity levels, and received more than 260,000 responses from families across England.

The survey of change4life families also found that 45 per cent of their kids watched TV or played non-active video games before school, and only 22 per cent did something active after their evening meal.

Since the survey began, families have been sent tailor made support packs to help them make small but important changes to their daily routines. A new Change4Life advert focusing on getting families more active, hits screens today and will add encouragement to that support.

The new advert responds to the need for families to get more physical activity into their daily routines - to make sure that the energy in, is matched by the energy out.

The ad features the Change4Life family as they realise that 'sitting around doing nothing' can lead to a build up of fat in their bodies that can cause diseases such as type two diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

The family find lots of fun ways to get their kids 60 active minutes - playing in the park, walking to school and playing with active computer games where kids need to jump and dance around.

Dawn Primarolo, Minister for Public Health said:

"Our survey shows that kids just aren't getting up and about as much as they should. If we're going to cut obesity levels our children need to be active for at least 60 minutes a day.

"Families up and down the country are getting tailor made action plans from Change4Life, and our new ads will give additional encouragement to help families feel the difference.

"By eating better and moving more, we can all live longer and healthier lives. With continued support from Change4Life this can be a reality for every family in England."

(DFT) Over 200,000 children to benefit from £10m of cycle training

Over 200,000 more school children in England will have the opportunity to have Bikeability training this year thanks to £10m of government funding, earmarked today by Transport Minister Paul Clark as part of the official launch of Bikeability for 2009.

This funding is part of a record £140m package which aims to give up to half a million children the chance to take part in Bikeability - the National Cycle Training Standard - by 2012.

Whilst visiting cycling schemes in the North West Paul Clark said;
"Having the skills to cycle to school and make other local journeys has never been more important, especially as it helps children and young people reach the 60 minutes of activity recommended by the Government's 'Change4Life' campaign.

"That's why I'm so pleased that by this time next year 350,000 children will have done their Bikeability training, which puts us ahead of our target to deliver 500,000 additional training places by 2012.

"I will be doing my own Bikeability training next week and, like the children I've met today, I look forward to hopefully receiving my Bikeability badge."

With 41% of all trips in England being less than two miles, a distance which can be cycled in less than 15 minutes, cycling has a major role to play in promoting sustainable travel and improving health and fitness.

Bikeability allows children to learn essential road safety skills and gain greater awareness of the dangers on the road - giving parents the reassurance to allow them to undertake short journeys, especially cycling to school.

This funding supports the continued development of Bikeability training which is promoted in England by Cycling England. £5.4m will go to local authorities to provide Bikeability cycle training; £4m will go to the Youth Sport Trust to deliver cycle training in schools through the School Sports Partnerships; and £500,000 will be given as bursary grants to help fund 1,600 new Bikeability trainers.

Philip Darnton Chairman of Cycling England said;
"We are determined to make 2009 the year of Bikeability and this funding is a tremendous start. Learning to ride a bike is a life skill and with the engagement of local authorities and the School Sport Partnerships around the country, we are working to give all young people the opportunity to get Bikeability training within the next 3 years"

Bikeability is supported by the 18 cycling demonstration areas programme which promotes cycling and spreads best practice for other areas to learn from as well as a further 70 local highway authorities outside of London and Transport for London. Department for Transport is also working to improve travel links to schools, connecting 500 schools via traffic calmed or traffic-free routes to the wider national cycle network by 2011.