It saddens me that, in the space of just two days, I find myself writing how a single event has led to shelving of previous bias, stereotype and opinion. On Tuesday, it was Jade Goody’s efforts to raise awareness of her illness; the article being a direct response to a piece published in The Times newspaper. Today however, my attention turns to David Cameron, the conservative leader, who sadly lost his six-year old son in the early hours of this morning.

Ivan Cameron, a “brave child” who faced the tragedy of severe epilepsy, passed this morning after battling with the illness since his birth. As a life-long anti-Conservative, I was deeply moved by this, both on a personal and political level. No parent should ever have to deal with losing a child, and I can’t imagine how Mr. and Mrs. Cameron are feeling at the moment. Rightly so, they have been granted their privacy and today’s PMQs has been cancelled.

As a parent dealing with a terminally ill child, Mr. Cameron daily life was dictated by hospital appointments, home treatment and working with his son’s carers; his politics was no different. Constant dealings with the NHS led to the Conservative’s adaptation of ‘compassionate conservatism’, a move away from the ‘nasty party’ image advocated by Theresa May, the one-time party secretary. Mr. Cameron recognised the value of the NHS and the important role it plays in people lives on a daily basis.

When Mr. Cameron does come back to work, I’m sure that the memory of his beloved son will be a driving force behind his campaign; an angelic inspiration of the highest value.

Rest in Peace Ivan.