War of Jennifer's Ear

The party highlighted the alleged mismanagement and underfunding of the National Health Service (NHS) under the Conservative government.

Conflicting accounts of the details of the case quickly surfaced, with the supposed inspiration for the ad being then-five-year old Jennifer Bennett.

Allegedly, the grandfather of the girl in question was a Conservative MP who informed the party of Labour's plans, allowing it to prepare an investigative response ahead of time.

In subsequent press discussion, Labour's point about healthcare was overshadowed by debate about the ethics of involving a young girl in national politics, and over which side made her identity public.

Jennifer's father, John Bennett, went on to become a critic of the health provision achieved by Tony Blair's Labour government.