David Cameron’s convictions are best expressed in anger. Cameron exuded an air of
the patrician yesterday with his righteous moral certainty. This may have made some observers squirm, but
others would have seen this seething performance as the essence of leadership in crisis. Cameron is likely to sustain this tone in parliament today. He will say that there is a
“sickness” in our society and set out his plan for curing the malaise.
The political class has already offered the government a panoply of options to pursue, but the coalition is expected to stand by its current course of education and welfare reform; if anything, these riots confirm their necessity. There might be some changes to the local government funding settlement, with the government promising councils a package to rebuild infrastructure in affected communities and bringing forward powers to evict criminal tenants. The government will also announce measures to assist those families and businesses whose property has been destroyed or ransacked.
However, the planned criminal justice reforms may be significantly altered to ensure that disorder is contained. Boris’ call for police cuts to be reversed has been rejected outright, but Cameroon outrider Margot James has been on the airwaves this morning calling for judges to be empowered in order to ensure that looters receive custodial sentences. This runs contrary to the Justice Secretary’s long-term schemes, which are supported by the Liberal Democrats.
Mischievous eyes are looking at the yellow section of the front bench and wondering if it can stomach Cameron’s avowedly Conservative rhetoric about these riots being criminality, plain and simple – the result of poor parenting, amorality and a colossal sense of entitlement. Nick Clegg was on the Today programme earlier this morning and, although refused to adopt Cameron’s view that this is a ‘sickness’, Clegg spoke as one would expect a wet Tory to speak. He roundly condemned the immoral impulses that led to “the outburst of acquisitive crime”, and said that it is vital for law, order and property to be restored and respected. The coalition appears to be united.
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