Boris was right to link Labour with Saturday's disorder

Tim Montgomerie

"The sad thing is that in spite of their crocodile tears, Balls and Miliband will feel quietly satisfied by the disorder – a token, they will tell themselves, of the public feeling that is out there to exploit."

The words above come from Boris Johnson's Telegraph column and have infuriated Labour politicians.

The Mayor of London was right to say what he said.

The Labour leadership hasn't told the public sector to grow up and share the pain. Instead, Ed Miliband has (ridiculously) likened the unions' desire for a larger share of the economic cake to the struggle against apartheid. He's not conducting a sensible debate but is fuelling a grotesque caricature of this government's economy-saving cuts programme (see historical comparisons for its modest scale). As Harry Phibbs blogged yesterday, Labour MPs have even endorsed the UKuncut movement.

Ultimately, of course, responsibility for illegal occupations and criminal damage lies with the individuals themselves and it's good to hear Theresa May promise to investigate giving new anti-riot powers to the police today. But is Labour partly responsible for stirring the public to anger? Absolutely, yes. I'm with the Mayor in thinking the Eds knew what they were doing.