Tories urge Blair to keep it 'real' on gun crime summit

Downing Street to host gun summit

Thursday, 22, Feb 2007 12:00

Tony Blair will today host a summit at Downing Street to address gun crime.

The prime minister and home secretary John Reid will meet with police and community leaders to discuss the recent shootings in London and across the UK.

Although stressing that the shootings are "not a metaphor for the state of British society", Mr Blair is keen to address the issue. So far the prime minister has mooted criminalising gang membership and reducing the minimum age for mandatory sentences for possession of a gun to 17.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have greeted the planned summit with scepticism.

Today should not simply be a photo opportunity for the prime minister, the Tories urged, with David Cameron urging Mr Blair to conduct a "real" summit. The Conservatives point to at least 19 other summits hosted by Downing Street since 2000 and claim that little constructive policy came of them.

Speaking on Radio Five Live's Breakfast programme, Mr Cameron said: "Let's hope this is a proper summit, that they do get to grips with the issues, but what I'm worried about is that there will just be some short-term changes and they won’t deal with the long-term problems."

While calling for tougher sentences for gun crime, Mr Cameron highlighted the role of communities. He claimed that some lacked strong families and positive role models for young people, calling for "real" community leaders, meaning "nightclub bouncers and taxi drivers" not "bureaucrats".

The Liberal Democrats also poured scorn on the Downing Street summit, warning that there can be no quick fixes on gun crime.

While visiting a boxing club in Bristol, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "Problems of gang crime cannot be solved by politician-led summits, more laws and longer sentences.

"We need a community-centred approach to tackling the cycle of deprivation, drug culture and lack of recreational opportunities in inner cities."

He pointed to the club as one example of how young people can turn their lives around if given the opportunity.

"By getting involved in sport young people gain confidence, respect and self-discipline. All of these qualities can help to stop the downward spiral towards a life of crime."