Bridget Jones snubs the Tories

Shadow social security secretary David Willetts this week said marriage was not an outdated institution and instead many young people are on a Bridget Jones style search for the right partner.

Helen Fielding, the author of Bridget Jones' Diary, has accused Mr Willetts of having a "bloody cheek" for the comments.

One of the things that most prevented Bridget from settling down with her boyfriend was the fact he voted Tory, says Ms Fielding.

Mr Willetts' invoked the Bridget Jones analogy as he argued left-wing commentators were wrong to argue Britons had abandoned marriage.

"If anything we have higher hopes of marriage than ever before," insists Mr Willetts.

"We are taking longer than before to find the right partner, but we are still searching for that person with whom we want to spend the rest of our lives - just ask Bridget Jones."

'Back to front'

In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, Ms Fielding says she was "most startled to discover that the criteria for being a Tory is essentially a Romantic dating matter".

"Had always believed in the past it was to do with politics, economics, methods of running the country, etc," she continued.

"Mr Willetts has got the whole thing back to front - since one of the things that most threatened to prevent Bridget settling down with or even going out with Mark Darcy was the horrifying discovery that he voted Tory."

Ms Fielding said Bridget was not just on a desperate quest to settle down.

"Like all self-respecting modern women she is struggling to balance her post independence and economic power with the human, not just female, need to love and be loved."

She adds: "Besides, if everyone who had a partner or husband voted Tory they'd have won the last election, wouldn't they? Probably."