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Tory 'broken Britain' claim wrong Tory broken Britain claim 'wrong'
(about 1 hour later)
Conservative suggestions that Britain is a "broken society" are fundamentally wrong, David Miliband has said.Conservative suggestions that Britain is a "broken society" are fundamentally wrong, David Miliband has said.
While problem families did exist, talk of widespread social breakdown was to "misunderstand" the state of the UK, the foreign secretary told the BBC.While problem families did exist, talk of widespread social breakdown was to "misunderstand" the state of the UK, the foreign secretary told the BBC.
Conservative leader David Cameron has said the Edlington torture case was not an "isolated incident" but symptomatic of deeper-rooted social problems.Conservative leader David Cameron has said the Edlington torture case was not an "isolated incident" but symptomatic of deeper-rooted social problems.
The Tories want the serious case review of the incident to be published.The Tories want the serious case review of the incident to be published.
'Truly awful''Truly awful'
They argue the lessons of the case, in which two nine- and 11-year old boys were subject to a series of sadistic attacks, will never be learned unless the results of the review were made public.They argue the lessons of the case, in which two nine- and 11-year old boys were subject to a series of sadistic attacks, will never be learned unless the results of the review were made public.
The 10- and 11-year old brothers who inflicted the attacks were detained indefinitely last week.The 10- and 11-year old brothers who inflicted the attacks were detained indefinitely last week.
The case has triggered a heated political row after Mr Cameron raised it at prime minister's questions last week.The case has triggered a heated political row after Mr Cameron raised it at prime minister's questions last week.
To say this is a broken society is to misunderstand the nature of the country we live in David MilibandTo say this is a broken society is to misunderstand the nature of the country we live in David Miliband
He subsequently likened the "truly awful" crime to other notorious cases such as the deaths of Jamie Bulger and Baby Peter, which he said had appalled the nation and highlighted deeper social problems.He subsequently likened the "truly awful" crime to other notorious cases such as the deaths of Jamie Bulger and Baby Peter, which he said had appalled the nation and highlighted deeper social problems.
The case was not an "isolated incident of evil", he said, and politicians must face up to the fact that family breakdown was at the root of many of the problems facing communities across Britain.The case was not an "isolated incident of evil", he said, and politicians must face up to the fact that family breakdown was at the root of many of the problems facing communities across Britain.
Labour has accused Mr Cameron of using the tragedy to paint a false picture.Labour has accused Mr Cameron of using the tragedy to paint a false picture.
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott suggested he had attempted to use the case to his political advantage in a way which was "offensive, patronising and just plain wrong."Former deputy prime minister John Prescott suggested he had attempted to use the case to his political advantage in a way which was "offensive, patronising and just plain wrong."
Mr Miliband acknowledged that more needed to be done to help the poorest in society, telling the BBC that life for life for those "at the bottom of the pile" was very tough.Mr Miliband acknowledged that more needed to be done to help the poorest in society, telling the BBC that life for life for those "at the bottom of the pile" was very tough.
But he defended Labour's record since 1997, saying crime levels were down substantially, neighbourhood policing had made communities more secure, while unemployment was considerably lower than during the recessions of the 1980s and 1990s.But he defended Labour's record since 1997, saying crime levels were down substantially, neighbourhood policing had made communities more secure, while unemployment was considerably lower than during the recessions of the 1980s and 1990s.
"There are broken families in this country but there is not a broken society," he told the Andrew Marr show."There are broken families in this country but there is not a broken society," he told the Andrew Marr show.
"To say this is a broken society is to misunderstand the nature of the country we live in.""To say this is a broken society is to misunderstand the nature of the country we live in."
Rather than tacking inequality and social breakdown, he said Tory policies - such as its commitment to cut inheritance tax - would result in the largest shift in wealth to the richest in society for "two generations".Rather than tacking inequality and social breakdown, he said Tory policies - such as its commitment to cut inheritance tax - would result in the largest shift in wealth to the richest in society for "two generations".
Speaking later, deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said the government had stemmed the rising inequality levels they inherited from the Conservatives and done much to reduce pensioner poverty.
"We have stopped the growing gap between rich and poor," she told BBC One's Politics Show. "But we do need to do more to narrow that gap."
PreventablePreventable
The Tories claim the Edlington case could have been prevented if serious case reviews on previous child cruelty cases had been published in full.The Tories claim the Edlington case could have been prevented if serious case reviews on previous child cruelty cases had been published in full.
The local safeguarding children's board published an executive summary of the investigation into officials' handling of the case, with most of the details removed.The local safeguarding children's board published an executive summary of the investigation into officials' handling of the case, with most of the details removed.
Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said lessons would not be learned unless the government accepted the need for "transparency, accountability, openness and candour".Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said lessons would not be learned unless the government accepted the need for "transparency, accountability, openness and candour".
The Department for Children Schools and Families said SCRs are not published in full on the advice of Lord Laming and children's groups.The Department for Children Schools and Families said SCRs are not published in full on the advice of Lord Laming and children's groups.
Its spokesperson said: "It is for Ofsted, the independent inspectors, to assess the quality of SCRs and their summaries so they are completed to a sufficiently high standard."Its spokesperson said: "It is for Ofsted, the independent inspectors, to assess the quality of SCRs and their summaries so they are completed to a sufficiently high standard."