ConservativeHome's ToryDiary

Should 42 days be a litmus test for the new Met Chief?

We know that most readers oppose 42 days (unlike this blog) but what do people think about it being an issue that stops an otherwise effective police officer from running the Met?  The Sunday Telegraph suggests confusingly that Boris Johnson both "may" and "will" object to a Met Chief that supported the Government on 42 days.  Such a litmus test (if it exists) may discourage police officers from making any statements on controversial issues in future - like drugs, speed cameras or stop and search.  Is that a good thing?

Scottish Tories campaign against plans to criminalise under 21s who use off licences

Scottish Conservatives are direct mailing the postcard below to 10,000 18 year-olds in target seats, highlighting SNP plans to stop under 21 year-olds from purchasing alcohol from off licences.

Murdo Fraser MSP described the Scottish Government’s proposals as "ludicrous, discriminatory and not addressing the fundamental issue." He continued: “Every 18 year old deserves to know what the SNP thinks of them.”

Boris is really beginning to deliver

In the sixth of eight reflections on Tory Conference week Tim Montgomerie notes the rise and rise of Boris Johnson.  The previous entry in this series examined the fact that Conference has "gone corporate".

The week began with the publication of ConHome's survey of Tory members.  The poll found that Boris Johnson enjoyed higher satisfaction ratings than any other Tory in the country - including David Cameron.  The rating followed the Mayor's strong defence of the City from Left-wing attacks.

My guess is that Boris Johnson will have only added to his standing since the survey was completed:

First was his very well received speech to Conference.  You can watch a section here.

Second was his announcement that he'd freeze the Mayor's component of the London council tax.  Having looked at the books he found plenty of economies from the Livingstone era.  As Cameron-Osborne look to bring discipline to UK-wide finances they now have a credible example of restraint to point to.

Third was yesterday's resignation of Sir Ian Blair.  Boris' statement on the resignation was statesmanlike but there can be little doubt that the Mayor's steel (and that of Kit Malthouse) forced the Met Chief out before he would otherwise have gone.  The normally reasonable Steve Richards of The Independent has blown a gasket in response.  But the greatest advance may be to come.  Justin Davenport and Pippa Crerar of the London Evening Standard are reporting that Boris Johnson met Los Angeles police chief Bill Bratton (who oversaw New York's zero tolerance revolution) at City Hall last Friday.  A City Hall source refused to rule out Bratton as a successor to Sir Ian.  Getting rid of Sir Ian was a good start.  Bill Bratton would be a brilliant leap forward for London.

The spirit of hug-a-hoodie lives on...

...and so it should.  The idea that crime has roots in broken families and malnourished lives is true.

In the most poignant words ever spoken by David Cameron, the Tory leader offered these thoughts to yesterday's Conservative Party Conference:

"Come with me to Wandsworth prison and meet the inmates.   Yes you meet the mugger, the robber and the burglar.   But you also meet the boy who can’t read and never could.  The teenager hooked on heroin.The young man who never knew the love of a father.  The middle aged failure where no-one in the family has known what it’s like to go out and work for two generations or maybe more.Miss the context, miss the cause, miss the background and you’ll never get the true picture of why crime is so high in our country."

The words reminded me of those spoken by George W Bush, in 2000:

"A couple of years ago, I visited a juvenile jail in Marlin, Texas, and talked with a group of young inmates. They were angry, wary kids. All had committed grownup crimes. Yet when I looked in their eyes, I realized some of them were still little boys. Toward the end of conversation, one young man, about 15, raised his hand and asked a haunting question... "What do you think of me?" He seemed to be asking, like many Americans who struggle ... "Is there hope for me? Do I have a chance?" And, frankly ... "Do you, a white man in a suit, really care what happens to me?" A small voice, but it speaks for so many. Single moms struggling to feed the kids and pay the rent. Immigrants starting a hard life in a new world. Children without fathers in neighborhoods where gangs seem like friendship, where drugs promise peace, and where sex, sadly, seems like the closest thing to belonging. We are their country, too. And each of us must share in its promise, or that promise is diminished for all."

Britains Conservatives must stay more focused on our social justice agenda than George W Bush.  We must build the nation of the second chance; a nation that rehabilitates prisoners, mends broken families, gives the long-term unemployed new training and skills.

> Graeme Archer has addressed the same words

> This is the second of Tim Montgomerie's eight conclusions from this week's Birmingham Party Conference.  The first noted David Cameron's rejection of an anti-government mentality.

Iain Duncan Smith condemns Met for for failing to charge George Michael

The Sun reports that pop megastar George Michael was arrested on Friday, near public lavatories on Hampstead Heath, in possession of Class A and C drugs.  Reacting to the Metropolitan's decision not to charge Mr Michael, The Sun concludes that it's "one law for the rich and famous and another for the rest of us."  London MP Iain Duncan Smith issued this statement to ConservativeHome.com:

“If, as we are led to believe that George Michael was caught with class A and B drugs on him, then he should be prosecuted, after all it isn’t the first time. However, the decision not to prosecute George Michael sends the signal to the public that if you are a celebrity in London you come under a different set of laws to everyone else. It also sends a powerful and destructive message to young people who admire George Michael, that drugs are fine, there is no penalty if you take them. After all didn’t the Met let Kate Moss and Amy Winehouse off as well?

The Metropolitan Police seem to be making this up as they go along. The Centre for Social Justice's Breakthrough Britain report showed that in Holland and Sweden where they have much clearer and tougher laws, everyone gets treated the same and the result is that there are no mixed messages and they have proportionately far fewer drug abusers than the UK.

At war with each other in the hierarchy, mired in controversy over the Menezes shooting, beset with accusations and counter accusations about race and corruption and lacking any firm leadership, this last decision by the Met will leave many Londoners asking what has happened to a once proud force that was, years ago, a byword the world over for quality policing.”

Over on The Platform, another London Tory MP - Mark Field - sets out his own wider case against the Met.  Read it here.

'Cameron on Cameron' highlights: Crime and fixing the broken society

Dylan Jones' new book Cameron on Cameron is a series of interviews with the Conservative leader. Throughout this week, ToryDiaries have focused on highlights discussing the economy and taxation, other politicians, foreign policy and public services. The final post in this series has some highlights of Cameron's responses relating to crime and social breakdown.

Society: “Britain’s broken society – that is what is wrong with the country. People can see that society is generally getting a lot poorer, there is family breakdown, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, persistent unemployment, sometimes three generations of families being unemployed… Labour don’t want to admit that there is anything broken about our society at all, even after twenty-seven children were killed in London last year, even after the appalling death of responsible citizens on their doorsteps and in their front gardens, people who have only been trying to protect themselves, their children or their property. Every day there is another murder, another assault, another rape, another front-page horror story.”

The causes of crime: “We’ve had all these criminal justice bills and thousands of new laws, and I think what we need to recognise is that fighting crime is actually about more than passing new laws. Of course you need to have the tough penalties on gun and knife crime and burglary and the rest of it, but unless you reform the police and get them out from behind their desks, unless you get rid of the culture of paperwork and political correctness, unless you deal with the issue of drugs on our streets, unless you have a broader response to crime, addressing the underlying causes, like family breakdown, unless you start saying no to things – to people falling down drunk in the streets, to shops selling booze to people underage, unless you change that then nothing will change.”

Capital punishment: “[I]f someone murdered one of my children then emotionally, obviously I would want to kill them. How could you not? But there have been too many cases of things going wrong, of the wrong people being executed, of evidence coming to light after the execution, and sometimes there is just too much of an element of doubt. And I just don’t honestly think that in a civilised society like ours that you can have the death penalty any more.”

Economic and social conservatism: “Obviously circumstances have meant that I’ve had to spend more time addressing economic issues and the credit crunch and the cost of living. But the Conservative Party’s problem wasn’t that we were insufficiently pro-business or pro-markets, our problem was people didn’t think we had a good vision of society, of what constituted good public services, of how you actually improve the quality of life and well-being. It’s quite clear that sorting out the economic mess we inherit from Labour will be a major undertaking. But equally we have made clear that social policy will be the focus of our reforms. The focus on those social aspects of modern Conservatism was right and they’ll be a very big part of my premiership if I get elected… I’m going to be as radical a social reformer as Mrs Thatcher was an economic reformer, and radical social reform is what this country needs right now.” 

Marriage: “It’s not the only way that couples come together and stay together, but it helps people, the sense of commitment, the fact that you’re standing there in front of friends and relatives and saying it’s not just about me any more, it’s about us, it’s about us together, we have commitments to each other, I think it’s a really important thing. I am unashamedly pro-marriage… Some people will say, you’ll sound a bit old-fashioned – I don’t care. I think it’s important.” 

The influence of government: “In the end people are not going to get married for a tax break, and people are not going to suddenly stop separating because we change the benefits system. I’m not naïve. But it seems to me that if we need a change in culture that is more pro-commitment, more pro-family, more pro-marriage, the very least the government can do is make sure the benefits and tax systems are not going in the opposite direction.”

Dominic Grieve to make it easier for police to conduct surveillance

The Guardian reports that Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve is to propose amendments to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act so that it is simpler for the police to conduct surveillance on those suspected of non-terrorist offences.  The article quotes Tory concerns that one police officer recently spent thirteen-and-a-half hours filling out paperwork in order to follow a burglar with three previous convictions.

According to The Guardian Mr Grieve wants the police to have automatic rights to:

• "Use covert video or listening devices in premises or vehicles.
• Watch premises to identify or arrest suspects.
• Conduct visual surveillance of public locations.
• Patrol, in uniform or plain clothes.
• Use thermal imaging and X-ray technology.
• Conduct surveillance using visible CCTV cameras."

Earlier in the summer the outgoing chair of the Local Government Association, Sir Simon Milton, highlighted local authorities' use and misuse of surveillance powers.

Mr Grieve's is the second announcement of a week that is dedicated to crime in the Tories' summer media grid. Yesterday's announcement was from Nick Herbert on stricter bail conditions.

Nick Herbert plans tougher bail conditions

One year ago Gary Newlove was murdered by a suspect on bail.  It seems an appropriate time for Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert to make a commitment to toughen both bail conditions and the punishments for those who break those conditions.  Mr Herbert's proposals are summarised in the graphic on the right.  They are the first announcements in a week that the Tories have identified as 'crime week' in their summer grid. David Cameron has returned from holiday today and is expected to play a part in this themed week.

Nearly 13,000 people were fined for breaching bail conditions last year but the average fine was just £61.07.  Latest data says that 13% of defendants charged with murder, and 85% of manslaughter suspects, were on bail.  Commenting Mr Herbert said:

“The current system is not working – bail is too easily granted, frequently breached and improperly enforced.  Public confidence is undermined when bail conditions are routinely breached, offenders hold the criminal justice system in contempt, and new victims of crime are created unnecessarily.  It is time to tighten the bail laws and put public safety first.”

Speaking on Radio 4 this morning, Mr Herbert pointed to similar reforms already enacted in Scotland.  These had included a consideration of "public safety" in the decision to grant bail and had enjoyed cross-party support.  They also seem to be consistent with the European Convention on Human Rights.

'Vote Conservative or get stabbed by people who may well be black'

This Steve Bell cartoon appeared in Tuesday's Guardian:

It reveals a lot more about the prejudices of Mr Bell than it does of the Conservatives.  There is no basis for suggesting that tough and necessary statements from David Cameron on knife crime had any racist content but Mr Bell just couldn't help implying that they did.  Politicians need thick skins and get all sorts of stuff thrown at them but we think Mr Bell crossed the line on Tuesday.

Cameron launches Knife Action Plan with presumption of jail for those caught carrying a blade

Last week we learnt that knife crime has replaced terrorism as the number one concern of the Metropolitan Police.

In an interview with The Sun - trailed on its front page - David Cameron also promises a get tough approach to knives:

• “The Government should say not just there is a presumption you will be prosecuted if you carry a knife, but that there will be a presumption you will go to jail. It is not a minor offence. There is no excuse for carrying a knife when you walk out of your door.”
• Within a new 'Knife Action Plan' he also mentions his action against family breakdown, against school indiscipline and also for a National Citizen Service scheme.
• The Sun's George Pascoe Watson also highlights the Tory promise to reform stop and search: "Mr Cameron also says cops are too scared to tackle yobs on streets because their hands are tied by rules from the 1980s set up to avoid racism allegations. He vows to tear up stop and search forms which PCs must fill in — and dismisses campaigners who say they are needed to stop blacks being harassed."

Within the interview he also highlights the responsibility of the state to punish offenders properly if we are to avoid a vigilante society (our emphasis):

“We give up our rights to take vengeance when we are wronged and place that duty with the state. We bloody well want the state to do it properly.”

The Sun Says welcomes the comprehensive nature of the Tory response:

"David Cameron is right to say knives should mean jail.  And Gordon Brown should act today to match this pledge.  Never mind bleating that there’s no space in our jails. Parents want an end to this orgy of killing NOW.

The Tory leader’s Knife Crime Action plan points out that punishment is not the only answer.  Families need help to stay together so kids have parents.  Schools must be allowed to discipline pupils and boot out yobs.  And the police must be cut free from strangling red tape."

> Melanie Phillips has an excellent article in the Daily Mail arguing that we won't beat knife crime if we throw away the approaches of social entrepreneurs like Ray Lewis.
> Listen to Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve discuss knife crime on last night's Westminster Hour on Radio 4.
> A debate on knife crime led by Alex Deane from end-May.

11am: Over at CentreRight, Andrew Lilico asks if there is an urban/ rural divide on carrying knives

Lord Stevens' border protection report launched

David Cameron, Dominic Grieve and Damian Green joined former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Stevens at City Airport today to look around the airport and launch his report on border protection. In February last year the Conservatives announced their intention to create a Border Protection Service and this report looked into how this might be done. Click here to download it.

It recommends that a proper Border Police Force should bring together the four principal existing border services - including parts of the police and Revenue and Customs, as well as the Border and Immigration Agency, UK Visas and the security section of the Department of Transport - under a single, "uniformed and unified" unit of 30000 officers and civilian staff. The force will have the power to stop (through armed intervention if necessary), search, detain and prosecute those smugglers, terrorists, traffickers and illegal immigrants who currently slip through the net.

The Labour Government did introduce a pale imitation of this proposal but it didn't include the police or have the extra powers required to enforce border security. Passport inspectors got new uniforms though.

First they introduce 24 hour drinking, now Labour launches campaign against binge drinking

Sky News:

"Hard-hitting anti-binge drinking adverts which show young people deliberately injuring themselves and smearing vomit in their hair have been unveiled. "You wouldn't start a night like this, so why end it that way?" is the message, designed to show the consequences of drinking too much.  One ad - to be shown during youth programmes on national television - depicts a young man getting ready for a night out who rips out his ear-ring, smashes a wardrobe door in his face, urinates on his shoes and pours a takeaway down his shirt."

There is a KnowYourLimits Youtube channel featuring three of these videos. Here's one of them:

New Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve worries that the ads are just gimmicks:

"While public information is important this will be nothing more than another gimmick if it is not backed up with proper enforcement of the law.  Prosecutions for drunkenness are down by over a third since 2002 and just a handful of people have been properly punished for selling to underage or drunk customers. This is not to mention the fact that it was this Government that unleashed 24 hour drinking on our towns and cities."

Related link: Boris introduces alcohol ban on London Transport.

Let's not forget that we have a new Shadow Home Secretary

The shock of David Davis' resignation and the joy of Ireland's "no" has distracted us from paying sufficient attention to what is very significant news in its own right.  The Conservative Party has, of course, a new Home affairs spokesman, Dominic Grieve.

Over at The Spectator's Coffee House, James Forsyth hasn't missed the significance of the appointment and has listed five reasons why he is worried.  James fears that...

• DG unbalances the frontbench and tips it away from the C2s,
• Is a passionate supporter of the European Convention on Human Rights,
• Is not above threatening to resign,
• Is weak on Islamic extremism, and
• May not be a strong enough media performer to channel public anger on crime.

ConservativeHome knows Dominic Grieve to be intelligent and one of politics' gentlemen.  Few have done more to build better relations with minority communities but we worry with James Forsyth, in particular, about his views on the ECHR.

One of the first things that Mr Grieve needs to do is rebut Labour suggestions that the party is soft on terrorism.  David Cameron made an excellent speech to the Community Security Trust in March.  Dominic Grieve needs to revisit the themes of that speech and make it clear that, unlike Labour, a Conservative Government will not allow extremists to enter Britain and will ensure no public funds go to extremist organisations.  Mr Grieve must also make it clear that he shares Dame Pauline Neville Jones' view that the Conservative Party does not approve of many of the attitudes of the Muslim Council of Britain.

> Mr Grieve recently gave a speech on Britishness.

Five reflections on an incredible day

Every politician and journalist and blogger has been bowled over by today's events.

Here are a few thoughts on what has happened:

(1) There is a gulf between the reactions of the Westminster village and the general public.  The villagers are interested in David Davis throwing away the chance to be Home Secretary and what this means for Project Cameron.  Most of the public is simply applauding a politician who has resigned his seat on an issue of principle.  They're impressed.  DD might soon have the status of his chum, Tony Benn and others like Frank Field, Clare Short and Ann Widdecombe.  Big hitting, principled people but not entirely comfortable with conventional politics.

(2) David Cameron called the decision "courageous" but, in many ways, David Davis isn't taking much of a risk.  He's certain to be re-elected but, on the other hand, he risks not being part of the first Conservative government of the 21st century.

(3) David Cameron's decision not to appoint an Acting SHS but a permanent replacement in Dominic Grieve shows a ruthlessness from the Conservative leader.  David Cameron could have kept the position open.  He didn't.  By appointing Dominic Grieve the Tory leader signalled that there'll be no retreat from the stance that DD has taken on civil liberties.  Mr Grieve's support for the Human Rights Act may mean trouble ahead, however.

(4) What will David Davis do when he returns to Parliament?  Accept a more junior shadow cabinet position?  Unlikely.  He'll probably go to the backbenches and champion certain causes.  David Davis is also a tax cutter.  Will he make the case for small government conservatism when he's back?

(5) How will David Davis keep his campaign in the news?  It's been a massive story today and will lead tomorrow's newspapers.  But, but...  Will the campaign stay in the news if DD doesn't have serious opponents in the by-election?  Will he win his contest but on a low turnout?  Will this story still be alive on Monday?

Dominic Grieve: Tories will repeal 42 days

In his first announcement as the new Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve confirmed that the Conservatives will repeal 42 days pre-charge detention if it is passed.

Our congratulations to Dominic Grieve.  He is a true gentleman and has been passed over for too long.

He was Conservative members' top choice for the shadow cabinet in our turn-of-the-year poll.

Our case for 42 days

We know this isn't going to be popular among a great many ConservativeHome readers and 92% of adopted Tory candidates but we ought to publicly nail our colours to the mast and stand up with Ann Widdecombe, Norman Tebbit, Matthew d'Ancona, Melanie Phillips and Frank Field as supporters of the Government's attempts to introduce a period of 42 days' pre-charge detention.

This debate is often portrayed as a great clash between those who care about civil liberties and those who don't.  Between those who are too worried about the threat of terrorism and those who are blind to the dangers we face from extremists.  This isn't helpful.  Is there really a substantial, principled difference between the Conservative leadership's support for the existing 28 day detention period and the Labour leadership's preference for 42 days?  David Cameron has always been careful to appear pragmatic on the issue - repeatedly saying that he and the Tory frontbench were open to persuasion that more than 28 days might be necessary.  He hasn't been persuaded but he has never ruled out a longer period of detention on the grounds of high principle.

Experts are divided on the issue but we have heard enough in recent days to tip us into the camp supporting the Government's plans.

Crucial to our conclusion was last week's article in The Telegraph by Peter Clarke, former head of Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Unit.  He argued that the complexity of the terrorist networks we currently face - using hi tech methods and operating across borders - may mean that more than 28 days of investigations might soon be necessary.  Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, the former Met Chief, who advises David Cameron on security issues, has told this morning's Times that "anti-terrorist police have come close in the cases of six suspects to needing more than 28 days to detain them".  A mature political party, interested in public safety, shouldn't lightly dismiss the arguments of such a senior anti-terrorist specialist and a senior police chief.

Ann Widdecombe will back Government on 42 days

The former Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe has confirmed that she's likely to vote with the Government on 42 days pre-trial detention:

"My reasoning is very simple indeed: it's that if we have a state of emergency then the government should be able to ask parliament for emergency powers, as we did for example over Northern Ireland … providing that the legislation does not remain on the statute books indefinitely until somebody gets around to repealing it."

She was speaking to Radio 4's World at One and is quoted in The Guardian.

Just over a year ago 7% of Conservative MPs told ComRes that they would be willing to support 60 days' detention without trial.

Unions blame Boris for tube violence

Tube unions are blaming Boris Johnson for last night's violence on London's Underground.  What started as a good-natured gathering of drinkers to mark the beginning of the new Mayor's alcohol ban degenerated into violence.  Seventeen arrests were made following a number of assaults on staff and reports of damage to trains.  Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, told The Times:

"Johnson should apologise personally to all those who were assaulted and abused last night thanks to a half-baked gimmick designed solely as a publicity stunt and without a moment's thought for the people told to implement it. We warned that it could put our members at greater risk of assault, but there is no comfort in being proved right when Tube workers have been injured and abused."

James Forsyth, over at Coffee House, speaks for us in reacting to this nonsense from Mr Crow: "This mindset which always blames the supposed provocation rather than those actually responsible for the actions is one of the great ills of our time. The moral responsibility for last night’s disgraceful scenes lies squarely with its perpetrators."

The whole episode makes the best possible case for the ban introduced by Boris Johnson.  What happened last night on a grand scale is the all too common experience of many travellers on a micro-scale as they are faced with alcohol-fuelled disorder.

Home Secretary mugged by Police Chief

Jan Berry of the Police Federation has provided the worst possible headlines for Labour on the eve of Crewe and Nantwich by using her keynote speech to attack the Home Secretary.  With Jacqui Smith next to her, these are four key sections that Ms Berry delivered in her farewell speech as the PF's Chair:

KAPOW!
"I am sure when your Private Secretary reminded you of today’s event you felt like reaching for the nearest stab proof vest - and perhaps slipping into old habits and lighting up to calm your nerves... But as you have reassured us, you have moved on from these past indiscretions...  Your recent crimes have been more for the serious fraud office than the drug squad!"

BANG!
"You will say that you could not take any risks with inflation by conceding on police pay. But let me ask you this. How was it that the government found 2.7 billion pounds to dig itself out of a tax hole in advance of a by-election but couldn’t find 30 million pounds to honour our pay deal?"

THWACK!
"When teachers went on strike, the Prime Minister and the Education Secretary’s response was to say that it would be ‘irresponsible’ to over-ride the settlement recommended by their independent pay review panel. So it suited Mr Balls to defend the teachers’ panel deal but it didn’t suit you to do the same for us.  Home Secretary, what is it that Mr Balls has but you do not..."

WHAAM!
"Your decision not to honour the pay award was a breach of faith. It was a monumental mistake and I do not say this lightly when I say you betrayed the police service."

Here is a PDF of the full speech.

1.25pm:

David Davis seeks stronger regulation of CCTV

Robert H Halfon, writing on CentreRight, recently noted that 90% of Britain's more than four million CCTV systems are not fit for purpose.  David Davis has tonight promised to act against that problem.

The Telegraph reports that the Shadow Home Secretary told the Society of Conservative Lawyers that many CCTV camera systems were endangering civil liberties without being effective enough to combat crime:

"There is no argument for having CCTV which both infringes on our civil liberty but is of such poor quality it does nothing to protect us or provide evidence to bring perpetrators of crime to justice - as happens now. Conservatives would ensure any CCTV has to be maintained at sufficiently high standard to provide evidence admissible in court.  We would also strictly limit access to these images to the police and other relevant agencies until they get to court, and set a mandatory punishment for breaches of these rules that infringe the privacy of the individual."

Scottish Tories lead calls for inquiry into last night's violence in Manchester

The ITN video above records how Manchester police were seemingly attacked by angry supporters of Glasgow Rangers.  Murdo Fraser MSP of the Scottish Tories has called for an urgent inquiry:

“Recent CCTV footage, which was not available this morning, shows the situation was far more serious than any of us at first suspected. The attacks on police officers and paramedics are deplorable and have to be condemned without reservation. The perpetrators need to be brought to justice and dealt with by the courts and Rangers Football Club should ban those who have played any part in these despicable acts.  This new footage only serves to underline the need for an urgent inquiry. I am pleased such a measure has now been announced. It may be a minority of Rangers supporters who were involved, but their behaviour is inexcusable and it has heaped shame upon their club and country.”

The violence flared after a big screen - set up for ticketless supporters - failed to work.

Boris moves quickly to impose alcohol ban on London's tube and buses

From next month it won't be possible to drink alcoholic drinks on tube trains or London buses.

Boris Johnson issued the following statement to the London Evening Standard:

"I firmly believe that if we drive out so-called minor crime then we will be able to get a firm grip on more serious crime. That's why from 1 June the drinking of alcohol will be banned from the Tube, tram, bus and Docklands Light Railway.  The ban is supported by the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police, and over the next month Transport for London will make the necessary legal changes and consult with staff."

The policy was welcomed by Don Shenker of Alcohol Concern:

"Public drinking and the behaviour sometimes associated with it can, and does, deeply affect people's ability to enjoy public spaces.  Taking a firm approach to public drinking in this way sends a strong message that public drunkenness is socially unacceptable and will support both the public and transport staff. This, in the end, is what culture change is all about."

Well done Boris!

8th May update: Video of BBC London discussing the ban

Boris and Ray Lewis to introduce "respect schooling" as part of the war on knife crime

Following another tragic stabbing in London (the twelfth teenage murder there this year) that came hours after Boris was crowned Mayor, he has written for the Evening Standard about his plans for Saturday courses for troubled youths that would involve "competition, discipline and punishment".

Newly-appointed Deputy Mayor for Youth & Opportunity Ray Lewis will be taking a lead on the Respect Schools plan, having been doing very similar work for years at the Eastside Young Leaders Academy. The article doesn't appear to be online at the time of writing but here is the key passage:

"Ray's approach has been to take young black males who have been excluded from school, and imbue them with magnificently untrendy boot-camp style discipline. He has been extraordinarily successful. He helps many of his students to perform a hand-brake turn in their lives. They win scholarships, they go on to university. Now he is going to join me in seeing if we can replicate his approach across London.

Of course it would be foolish to imagine that we can have a transforming effect overnight, but I am full of hope. Imagine what we could achieve with 100 Saturday schools like the East Side Young Leaders. Imagine if there were dozens of boxing clubs, rather than the handful surviving today."

Ray's work has long been championed by the Conservatives, we profiled him over two years ago as a potential A-list candidate for the Party. His is an inspired appointment.

> Melanie Phillips and Iain Dale are among the commentators to welcome Ray Lewis' appointment.

David Cameron meets Mrs Newlove

The wife of Warrington man Garry Newlove, who was murdered by youths outside his doorstep last summer, spoke alongside Cameron today at a summit on strengthening families. Cameron said:

"We need to build stronger families and more responsible communities, so that kids grow up knowing the difference between right and wrong. Most important of all, parents need to take the responsibility of parenthood seriously. That is a harder and longer task than sorting out the criminal justice system. It is a task for a generation."

Helen Newlove ultimately blames a breakdown in morals and family life for her husband's death. Cameron paid tribute to Mrs Newlove's commitment to speaking out about the underlying social problems that lead youths on the path to crime, saying he'd find it hard to think of anyone who is more remarkable that he's met in the last two and a half years as leader...

Cameron gets tough with Islamic extremists, apologists for terror and the idea of 'state multiculturalism'

Last night, keeping up his recent frenetic pace, David Cameron spoke to the Community Security Trust - an organisation that "provides physical security, training and advice for the protection of British Jews".  Here are key extracts from the speech:

We must not tolerate the apologists for terror: "The historian Michael Burleigh has written a brilliant new book I would urge you all to read.  It’s called Blood and Rage: A Cultural History of Terrorism.  In it, Professor Burleigh demonstrates how, time and time again, people who have resorted to terrorism have been assisted and sustained by apologists who seek to make excuses for them.  In some cases, even to glorify them.  We saw it in the 1970s when the Red Brigades were hailed as liberators by some Italian university professors.  We saw it in the 1980s when parts of the Labour Party were prepared to appear on platforms with IRA front men.  And we see it today when some people attempt to justify suicide bombers and call them ‘martyrs’."

The "nauseating" middle class Britons who are the terrorists' fellow travellers: "Extremism is not confined to any particular religious or ethnic group.  During protests against the conflict in Lebanon, we witnessed the nauseating sight of well-scrubbed, middle class English people… marching through central London holding placards that read ‘We are all Hizbollah’.  That is the extremist mindset in action.  These are the same people who urge a boycott of Israeli goods and academics… while saying nothing about China, Iran or Zimbabwe.  Unless we challenge such attitudes and expose them for the morally-bankrupt nonsense they are… they will spread through the body politic and become the received wisdom of millions."