The new year is often a good time for pressure-groups, charities and minor players to get headlines beyond their normal reach. A well-timed press release can work wonders in the quieter days before the Westminster is fully up and running. Today was no exception, and step forward the Family and Parenting Institute.

“Couples with children ‘to be hardest hit’ by coalition tax and benefit changes” claim the headlines this morning,  however it seemed nobody bothered to take a moment to think this might not be the most balanced group in the world. The Family and Parenting Institute was set up by the Labour Party, and its current Chief Exec, who had previously been head of that bastion of neutrality the Fawcett Society, was hand-picked by Alistair Campbell’s partner Fiona Miller. They must be laughing their heads off with the coverage…