Blair promises 'bold' yob reforms

Tony Blair has promised a programme of bold legislative reforms in the forthcoming parliamentary session, Labour's third consecutive term in Government.

At today's monthly press conference Mr Blair, answering questions on anti-social behaviour, said that yobbishness was at the top of the hit list for the new session.

The Prime Minister said that the text had been agreed for the Queen's Speech at a meeting of the Cabinet this morning.

Mr Blair said that this "bold programme" would start to implement the Labour party's manifesto pledges. He said: "Our task now is to deepen the change, accelerate reform and address head-on the priorities of the British people in the National Health Service, schools, welfare reform, childcare and support for working families, crime, disorder, respect on our streets, asylum and immigration."

White papers have been pledged on reform of the National Health Service and schools. These will be aimed at developing a personalised public service.

Promising more help with childcare, Mr Blair told reporters that this would mean a welfare state that removed barriers that were holding people back.

The Prime Minister said that on many occasions people had spoken to him about "a loss of respect in the classroom, on the street corner, in the way our hard-working public servants are treated." He said that Government and society as a whole had to address these problems. Mr Blair laid much of the blame on parents and said that laws could not raise people's children, emphasising that respect was the key lesson he had learned while campaigning.

Next Tuesday's Queen's Speech is traditionally used to set the tone of the incoming government's policy and direction for the year.

(SP/GB)