Very Strange.

I have come into possession of a letter for mass circulation signed by Francis Maude MP and Nick Hurd MP. (As an aside, I have met the fathers of both: Angus Maude at the Stratford-upon-Avon by-election following the resignation of John Profumo and Douglas Hurd at Chevening.) The letter is written on Conservative Party headed paper and the address on the letter is that of Conservative Campaign Headquarters.

The letter states that: We are writing to reaffirm our key priorities for the voluntary sector...'
In fact the letter is virtually identical to a document released by the Conservative Party on 31st March 2010. (See my blog on this dated 31st March.)

I have been informed that the letter was distributed by the Government Office for the South East which I find very strange as it is a party political document.

Normally one would expect ministers to release policy statements through the government's press service and websites. Nowhere in the document is there a reference to the Liberal Democrats and the Coalition government.

The fact that this document has surfaced in the Third Sector now is also very strange. What worries me is that the distinction between political party documents and government documents has become blurred.