Tories slam government's 'all-talk-no-action' legislative agenda

The Tories have dismissed the government's legislative programme, contained in the Queen's speech yesterday, as comprising an "all-talk-and-no-action agenda".

Signifying that crime will be a key battlefield in the general election, Tory leader Michael Howard claimed that "crime was out of control".

Labour has set its stall out on the crime issue, proposing the creation of Soca - the British version of the FBI – making all forms of crime arrestable and offering offenders "attractive" incentives to testify against crime bosses.

But while the Prime Minister promoted law, order and security as a priority, Mr Howard said that with seven years of government initiatives now past, criminals still had the upper hand. A Tory administration would place more officers on the streets by cutting paperwork and by recruiting 5,000 extra officers, he said.

"How can we guarantee security when we don't even know who's coming into our country? The Prime Minister has had seven and a half years, but he hasn't even managed to cover the basics. And how can he keep a straight face talking about security when he's got plans to cut the armed forces?" the Opposition leader said.

While the Conservatives have steadfastly avoided a commitment to tax cuts, Mr Howard chided the government for presiding over 66 tax rises for "hard working families" – equating to around £5,000 more a year, he claimed.

Presented the Tory alternatives, Mr Howard pledged to: give head teachers the power to expel unruly pupils; give patients the right to choose where they are treated and doctors the power to close MRSA infected wards; and restore the link between the basic state pension and average earnings.

Mr Howard added: "That's what this legislative programme should have been about: the people's priorities - school discipline, cleaner hospitals, more police, lower taxes, and controlled immigration. Today, after seven years, and five months before the general election, all we get from this government is more rhetoric, more promises and more talk. But this government can't turn talk into action. So it's time for a government that will."

(gmcg/sp)