Howard sets out vision for Britain
Conservative leader Michael Howard has laid out his plans for a Britain where everyone has the “best possible chance” to fulfil their potential.
Speaking at a party rally in Ashford in Kent this lunchtime, Mr Howard promised “a government that never stops taking action on the things that matter”.
“I don’t believe in empty promises, I believe in rolling up your sleeves and getting the job done”.
He spent much of his speech championing his time as Home Secretary, pointing out that he refused to accept civil servants’ arguments that the Secretary of State was to accept crime as ‘inevitable’
“I didn’t come in to politics to sit on my hands or to enjoy the perks”, said Mr Howard. He emphasised that crime fell by 18 per cent. during his time in office. This was built on “taking a stand and focusing on the specifics”, said the Tory leader.
He based his approach on respect, discipline and decent values.
A Conservative government would introduce automatic minimum sentences for third time drug dealers and burglars, sentencing each to three years and seven years, respectively.
Mr Howard pledged to end the early release scheme and “stand up to the mickey takers”.
“I don’t believe in half time sentences for full time crimes”, he said.
To tackle anti-social behaviour, the Conservative leader said he wanted, police out on the streets “eyeballing the yobs”, invading their personal space – not filling in forms.
Furthermore, he promised to provide 25,000 extra residential rehab places – enough to treat every young heroin and cocaine addict.
If elected on Thursday, Mr Howard said that respect would rule the streets and not “the law of the jungle”.
Turning to MRSA, he pointed out the Government had adopted Conservative party policies, reintroducing the matron with the power to close infected wards, swabs to test for MRSA and publication of hospital infection rates.
In other comments, Mr Howard repeated his party’s plans for controlled immigration, which include imposing an annual limit on migrants coming into the UK. Yesterday, he said a Conservative government would make the asylum system “more humane”.
