Howard: Time to get tough on criminals
Michael Howard has pledged that the Conservatives would get tough on crime and ensure that voices other than “do-gooders. who make excuses for criminals” are heard.
The Conservative leader said that crime was getting worse because of “a lack of leadership; a lack of political will; and a lack of courage.
“Instead of sending clear signals about the difference between right and wrong, instead of standing up for the rights of the majority, Mr Blair has bowed to the do-gooders.”
Speaking in Barnes, south west London, Mr Howard said the “grim realities of life – the everyday muggings, the burglaries, and the yobbish behaviour” put a lie to statistics showing that crime was going down.
The Conservatives would introduce automatic minimum sentences for third time burglars and Class A drug dealers of three and seven years respectively – which Mr Howard guaranteed would be served in full.
Every sentence passed would make it clear how many years a criminal would spend behind bars, the early release scheme would be ended, householders would be able to use greater force to defend themselves and youngsters involved in drugs would be given the “simple choice” of either rehabilitation or prison.
He reserved particular ire for Labour’s early release scheme, claiming that since its introduction in 1999, 4,500 crimes had been committed by people on early release – 500 of them violent.
Mr Howard also rounded on the Liberal Democrats, saying that their comments about prison being a “waste of time” meant they “just don’t get it.
“It’s not about whether it’s a waste of time or not. It’s about taking these people off the street, and keeping them off the street. A burglar, a mugger or a thief can’t steal while they’re under lock and key.”
He added that far from prison being a criminal university, what people would realise is “You have ten years to learn that ‘if you do the crime, you’ll do the time'”.
Rallying voters, Mr Howard said: “So if you have had enough of the lax sentences and the failed, politically correct approach to crime, there is one answer: to vote Conservative.”
Home Secretary Charles Clarke said that Mr Howard’s promise on prisons was “worthless”.
Mr Clarke said: “Michael Howard claims he only makes promises he can deliver. But when it comes to the Tory prisons policy, the Tories’ own figures show they cannot deliver on the promises Michael Howard has made.”
He said the Conservatives had promised to build 20,000 extra prison places, costed at £760 million a year, plus an extra £2 billion capital cost of building them in the first place.
“Yet the Tories’ own spending plans admit that they have only found £125 million for this policy. Today, his pledge to cut £35 billion from public spending relative to Labour’s plans make his pledges on the police and prison places worthless.
“Tory pledges unravel at the slightest scrutiny.”
