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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Labour pandering to fear - Clegg | Labour pandering to fear - Clegg |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Ministers are "pandering to fear" and "playing to simmering tensions" as people lose jobs and a minority of them turn to hate, Nick Clegg has said. | Ministers are "pandering to fear" and "playing to simmering tensions" as people lose jobs and a minority of them turn to hate, Nick Clegg has said. |
| The Lib Dem leader cited attacks on human rights and "scaremongering over Zimbabwean refugees coming here and spreading cholera". | The Lib Dem leader cited attacks on human rights and "scaremongering over Zimbabwean refugees coming here and spreading cholera". |
| "This isn't leadership," he added in a speech to the Demos think-tank. | "This isn't leadership," he added in a speech to the Demos think-tank. |
| He also said society could be damaged by measures taken after "evil crimes" involving abuse of children. | He also said society could be damaged by measures taken after "evil crimes" involving abuse of children. |
| For example, he said, the reaction to the murder of two-year-old Jamie Bulger in 1993 had led to a "massive upswing" of young people in custody. | For example, he said, the reaction to the murder of two-year-old Jamie Bulger in 1993 had led to a "massive upswing" of young people in custody. |
| The only way we will make it through the hard times ahead, the only way we'll build a fairer more cohesive society is if we come together Nick CleggLib Dem leader Full text of speech | |
| In a speech entitled Why I am a Liberal, which comes almost a year after he became leader of his party, Mr Clegg argued that liberalism was unique in "its optimism in people". | In a speech entitled Why I am a Liberal, which comes almost a year after he became leader of his party, Mr Clegg argued that liberalism was unique in "its optimism in people". |
| He added that the economic downturn could lead to many people switching off politics and "as more people lose their jobs and end up on the streets, an alienated and frustrated minority will turn to aggression, to hate and to blame". | He added that the economic downturn could lead to many people switching off politics and "as more people lose their jobs and end up on the streets, an alienated and frustrated minority will turn to aggression, to hate and to blame". |
| He said he had been "appalled by the way ministers have been playing to these simmering tensions". | He said he had been "appalled by the way ministers have been playing to these simmering tensions". |
| "Hardship creates anxiety, scarcity creates suspicion - yet we have seen the justice minister denounce human rights, the immigration minister blame misery on asylum seekers," Mr Clegg said. | "Hardship creates anxiety, scarcity creates suspicion - yet we have seen the justice minister denounce human rights, the immigration minister blame misery on asylum seekers," Mr Clegg said. |
| "This isn't leadership; this is pandering to fear. The only way we will make it through the hard times ahead, the only way we'll build a fairer more cohesive society is if we come together - not if we drive people apart." | "This isn't leadership; this is pandering to fear. The only way we will make it through the hard times ahead, the only way we'll build a fairer more cohesive society is if we come together - not if we drive people apart." |
| 'Evil' | 'Evil' |
| During his speech Mr Clegg covered the cases of Karen Matthews, found guilty earlier this month of kidnapping her own daughter Shannon, and the step-father who beat 17-month-old Baby P to death. | During his speech Mr Clegg covered the cases of Karen Matthews, found guilty earlier this month of kidnapping her own daughter Shannon, and the step-father who beat 17-month-old Baby P to death. |
| He talked about the father in Sheffield who raped his two daughters over a period of 20 years. | He talked about the father in Sheffield who raped his two daughters over a period of 20 years. |
| There are minor miracles done by parents, teachers, carers, total strangers, every day in schools, hospitals, homes, playgrounds Nick Clegg | There are minor miracles done by parents, teachers, carers, total strangers, every day in schools, hospitals, homes, playgrounds Nick Clegg |
| Mr Clegg said: "Evil may be the right word to describe what some individuals have done to others, especially their own children. | Mr Clegg said: "Evil may be the right word to describe what some individuals have done to others, especially their own children. |
| "But our outrage as a people, our fury, our determination to stamp out these crimes wherever we can, shows that, as a society, we are moral, we are decent." | "But our outrage as a people, our fury, our determination to stamp out these crimes wherever we can, shows that, as a society, we are moral, we are decent." |
| He added: "It is disaster politics to assume otherwise." | He added: "It is disaster politics to assume otherwise." |
| On the case of Jamie Bulger, who was killed by two children in Liverpool, Mr Clegg implicitly criticised former prime minister Tony Blair's response. | On the case of Jamie Bulger, who was killed by two children in Liverpool, Mr Clegg implicitly criticised former prime minister Tony Blair's response. |
| Mr Blair was shadow home secretary at the time of the murder, which was widely said to have prompted his promise to be "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime". | Mr Blair was shadow home secretary at the time of the murder, which was widely said to have prompted his promise to be "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime". |
| 'Damaged adults' | 'Damaged adults' |
| Mr Clegg said: "We know that it was the disaster politics response to the killing of Jamie Bulger that led to a massive upswing in the number of children in prison or prison-like secure accommodation. | Mr Clegg said: "We know that it was the disaster politics response to the killing of Jamie Bulger that led to a massive upswing in the number of children in prison or prison-like secure accommodation. |
| "And we know it isn't doing any good. It isn't cutting crime. It's just turning fragile children into damaged adults - turning out a generation of career criminals." | "And we know it isn't doing any good. It isn't cutting crime. It's just turning fragile children into damaged adults - turning out a generation of career criminals." |
| He insisted that liberalism was "not just a ginger beer doctrine for sunny days and picnics", adding: "Most parents, almost all parents, are loving, caring, and put themselves last when it comes to decisions that affect their children. | He insisted that liberalism was "not just a ginger beer doctrine for sunny days and picnics", adding: "Most parents, almost all parents, are loving, caring, and put themselves last when it comes to decisions that affect their children. |
| "There are minor miracles done by parents, teachers, carers, total strangers, every day in schools, hospitals, homes, playgrounds. Acts of kindness that are the overwhelming majority of human experience." | "There are minor miracles done by parents, teachers, carers, total strangers, every day in schools, hospitals, homes, playgrounds. Acts of kindness that are the overwhelming majority of human experience." |
| Mr Clegg said: "Like all liberals, I have an optimistic attitude towards people. That most people, most of the time, will make the right decisions for themselves, their family and their community." | Mr Clegg said: "Like all liberals, I have an optimistic attitude towards people. That most people, most of the time, will make the right decisions for themselves, their family and their community." |
| Turning to the economy, Mr Clegg accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown of a "spectacular failure" to apply proper business rules. | Turning to the economy, Mr Clegg accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown of a "spectacular failure" to apply proper business rules. |
| He added: "What we need now is a resetting of the rules which govern a dynamic, liberal economy - not a lurch back towards the economic policies of the 1970s." | He added: "What we need now is a resetting of the rules which govern a dynamic, liberal economy - not a lurch back towards the economic policies of the 1970s." |