The name ‘Ken Clarke’ and the word ‘sacking’ are inseparable to
the chattering classes at the moment, but so was it ever thus. There are signs though that the normally insouciant Clarke has been shaken on this occasion. He has given an interview in defence of
his contentious prison reforms to the Times this morning (£). In a clear message to concerned voters, Tory
backbenchers and sceptical government colleagues, he denies that he is ‘soft on crime’. For example, he will tighten community sentences:
“I want them to be more punitive, effective and organised. Unpaid work should require offenders to work at a proper pace in a disciplined manner rather than youths just hanging around doing odd bits tidying up derelict sites.”
Clarke’s talk is political rather than practical and the substance of his reforms remains uncorrupted.
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