Palin girl’s boyfriend, Levi Johnston

The father-to-be of 17-year-old Bristol Palin's unborn child is giving Republican party minders no end of headaches. Levi Johnston (pictured) stepped into the public glare yesterday after journalists looking into the background of vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin - especially after the news was released that her unmarried daughter was pregnant - discovered his identity.

Although he has yet to speak to the press, his MySpace page has given the media plenty to feast on. He reveals on it he's "a fucking redneck" and, worse, that he didn't want children. The latter statement – "I don’t want kids" – appears to contradict Governor Palin's insistence that the young lovebirds plan to marry soon. However, Johnston's mother, Sherry, says that while no pressure has been put on her son to marry Bristol, the teenagers had made plans to wed long before it was known she was pregnant.

The Palin family certainly appear to be hugging Jonhston close to their collective bosom. His mother revealed that he will be with Bristol, Trigger and the rest of the brood, at the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, where John McCain will officially accept the nomination for president this week.

Unfortunately, little is known of Levi – his MySpace page is now only accessible to friends - apart from the fact that he is something of a local hockey hero and that he did not graduate from Wasilla High School, Alaska. Sherry Johnston wants that situation to remain. Of the media interest, she said: "This is out of my league. I’m just a country gal and I want to keep it that way."