As-it-happened: PM’s monthly press conference
Welcome to politics.co.uk’s As-It-Happens page. Here you can keep up to date with major parliamentary debates, press conferences or news events in real time. This event is now over, but you can see how it happened below.
Reporters are taking their seats as the appointed hour approaches. And the man himself appears…
Mr Brown gets to the point straight away. “We need to make it absolutely clear. that in our country there are boundaries of acceptable behaviour. That it is completely unacceptable to carry a knife.” Strengthened sentencing and enforcement are announced. Communities should have a role in deciding what community service is performed.
The Steer report on behaviour in schools is related, the PM continues. The “slippery slope” towards crime is highlighted as being perilous and in need of checking. Children identifiably at risk of becoming prolific offenders are to be targeted. “Let us be clear – if you carry a knife, our objective and determination is you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, you will be punished. Enforcement, punishment and prevention together.” No surprises there on the topic of his pre-question comments.
The first question doubts whether the knife crime proposals will make any difference. The PM reels off a list of the actions the government has taken: metal detectors, stop and search, more visible policing are among them. He says 110,000 families are being targeted “to take action over the next three years” so that parents are “forced to face up to their responsibilities”. “We are tougher on punishment, we are tougher on enforcement,” Echoes of a certain soundbite.
Does Mr Brown have a properly thought-through strategy, or is he just responding to the headlines? The prime minister insists his actions add to those already taking place. “More enforcement, more punishment”. It’s getting a bit repetitive. “I wouldn’t like people to think it’s just one measure alone [we’re taking].” No worries about that.
The PM rejects claims that increased knife crime is Labour’s fault. He points out that crime is down, but accepts that “the job is not done and a huge amount is still to be done”.
Finally, away from knife crime and on to international affairs. Mr Brown is anxious to stick to his message. Neighbourhood policing, he points out, has caused a reduction in crime. Haven’t we moved on from this? Is someone at the back of the room telling him he’s forgotten something?
On Zimbabwe, Mr Brown insists that after the UN sanctions failure Britain will ask the EU to step up its sanctions against Robert Mugabe’s regime. This is a major announcement. He says the vetoes by China and Russia are not justifiable. The British government is stepping up its own punitive measures, while the PM “reserves the right” to return to the UN. “I think it is unfortunate that China and Russia have blocked this path when the vast majority of people want to see action against this regime,” he says, but rejects calls to boycott the Olympic Games in Beijing.
The government’s focus on community service, rather than automatic prison sentences, is the next topic. It’s all about “punishment”, the PM says. He then contradicts himself on whether those carrying knives should be sent to prison or not. The response doesn’t satisfy journalists in the room, who follow up. Mr Brown underlines the “presumption to prosecute” for those carrying a knife. The sentences could be up to four years, he says, and as his voice gets a little higher a note of pleasing enters his voice. It’s only momentary, however, as the drone quickly returns. “That’s the right way to proceed,” he finishes.
Could a nationwide curfew be a possibility? Mr Brown says local authorities have the power, alongside dispersal orders, to implement that, adding they should be used “where there’s trouble”.
Mr Brown rejects the suggestion that a shortage of prison places is having an impact on his policies as “nonsense”. There are going to be more places, he says. There were 60,000 in 1997 and “in a few years time” there will be 96,000. So there.
The ICC’s impending announcement on Omar al-Bashir is next up. The prime minister’s comments were restricted because of that impending nature but said the British government calls on Sudan for cooperation. “We are perhaps at the first stages of something but its premature to anticipate whether it actually comes to a conclusion.” Not exactly damning words from the PM there.
Again, back to crime. Mr Brown is asked to list the five root causes of knife crime. The prime minister thinks this is a bit unreasonable. “Five?” he asks, before clunking through just three – “knives, guns and gangs”. Another list of measures being taken follows, ending with today’s moves. “We have got to make it unacceptable for people to be seen on the streets to be carrying a knife. Guns should not be held by people and that’s why we’ve banned so many varieties. I believe bullying has become unacceptable in our country and there’s a general public mood about that. We have got to make the same antipathy towards the carrying of knives.” It’s all about creating an unacceptable boundary, he says. Of course he’s right, but he hasn’t really answered the question.
As the Press Association asks its question the prime minister ruffles through some papers on his podium. They’re an utter mess, for your information. As he explains again the importance of community service in punishing youths, he makes dull thudding sounds in his microphone. These are not clunking fists, just little prods – but the mikes are exaggerating them. Crime. clunk. Reserve the right. clunk. Economic stability. clunk. Well, I made that last one up, but no doubt it’s coming.
When it comes to public sector pay and dealing with the pesky unions, Mr Brown says he has repeatedly made it “absolutely clear – we’re not returning to the 70s and 80s”, to the bad old days of a government cowed by industrial action. “There’s going to be no return to picketing or those issues of secondary action.”
Has Britain lost its clout on the world stage? The opposite, Mr Brown insists. He addresses the three concerns of the question: there is progress being made on the peacekeeping force for Darfur. There is progress being made on the millennium development goals – education will be improved, diseases will be fought and the Gleaneagles commitments have been “reinforced”. Britain’s campaign to achieve the MDGs. not only continues but has been reinforced by the decisions which have been made in Japan.” He says it was an achievement that unity was reached on Zimbabwe at the G8. And as for China and Russia’s veto at the UN – “that action cannot be justified”. “We are not going to be deterred”, he adds. “In all these areas of foreign policy we continue to press, and I believe with some degree of achievement.”
The PM, regrettably, makes clear he can’t set a date for withdrawal of troops from Iraq. But he says all the UK’s duties “can be discharged in the next period of time”. However long that might be. Local democracy in Basra must be restored, he says. Security is needed. Economic and social development, together with transferring the airport to civilian use, make up his four bullet points. “I’m not going to set an artificial timetable,” he says, but is quietly confident about the situation in southern Iraq.
It’s taken 35 minutes, but finally Mr Brown moves on to the economy. He revealed the government would consider “further measures” to help households cope and sought to empathise with their plight. “We will see what we can do,” he said.
Next up is the US presidential election. What of presumptive Democrat nominee Barack Obama’s policies? Mr Brown points out he has already met the Illinois senator and said there is not a “shortage of policy” from the Obama campaign. “We will discuss what we can do about the longer and medium-term challenges of energy in the world,” he says, clearly with a bit of glee. Lots of other things to discuss, and a bit of showing off about the Labour record. “I know the Democratic party has looked at the success we have had in these areas.” Perhaps that question about Britain’s influence in the world is still bothering him.
Mr Brown gets some texts from BBC Radio 1 listeners on knife crime read out to him. They want tougher sentences and say the PM is living in “dreamland”. But tougher sentences are what the government is doing, Mr Brown blusters. “Tougher action” is being taken. More searches in schools. “The first message I would want to give to your listeners is it is unacceptable to carry knives,” he explains.
After a question about equity, which passes this commentator completely by, the focus moves on to Iran and its nuclear ambitions. “We do not rule out further sanctions on Iran,” he threatens, before saying Tehran has a “choice”. They are either goodies or baddies, it’s quite straightforward.
Back to Zimbabwe. Mr Brown explains the argument used by those opposing the resolution at the UN that mediation talks were taking place could be thwarted if the talks fail. “We have not only the European Union putting sanctions on Zimbabwe – we have also America too.”
Following news of Santander’s takeover of Alliance & Leicester Mr Brown is asked about foreign ownership of UK banks. It’s not a problem, the prime minister says. “We benefit from having an open economy.”
Another easy question for the PM: he’s not going to Glasgow East because it’s not the “tradition” for the prime minister to participate.
Ahead of the Nigerian president’s visit this week, Mr Brown explains that he is prepared to look at how to secure law and order in the Delta. “I’ll be talking through with him some of the things that we could do.” The area is certainly important and disruption is affecting oil prices. “We are prepared to help,” he says.
Returning to Iran, Mr Brown gets stuck, again, on reserving the right to return to the UN for more sanctions. He says civil nuclear power is all very well but adds: “We are not prepared to allow them to acquire nuclear weapons.” The alternative to cooperation is “isolation from the international community.”
China’s veto of Zimbabwe again crops up. Perhaps a boycott is the best option? “I reserve the right to return to the UN quickly, rather than in months,” he says. “What decisions were made by Russia or China do not seem to me to be defensible.”
Next Mr Brown responds to comments from church leaders about the embryology bill. The PM hides behind the House of Commons’ free vote backing the legislation, saying that should be respected. “Everybody had the chance to put their view. and a decision was reached.”
All this repetition appears to be getting to the prime minister, who is a bit short with the next question worrying about knife crime sentences. “The answer is no,” he snaps.
And then, on Northern Rock, he says the government has been vindicated on its stance.
The economy is seeping its way to the top of this press conference’s agenda, usurping the exhausted topic of knife crime. More questions about the pre-Budget report lead Mr Brown to ruminate on the economy. What has changed, he explains, is the oil price which “continues to go up”. A trebling of oil prices in any other age, he says, would have led to recession “in any other decade”. “What we have is a more flexible economy, able to adjust more quickly, but of course you cannot deny that if it continues to rise. then that is going to affect the general state of the economy as a whole.” A bit of shoulder-shrugging, there – but quite pragmatic from the PM, who points out the entire world is facing the same headache.
Having said all that, we return again to knife crime – in particular dysfunctional families and the government’s “direct and compulsory action” to save at-risk children. Family intervention programmes will help, the PM says, again highlighting the 110,000 families he says need the most attention. “Everybody sitting here would want to prevent young people getting into trouble in the first place.” A lot of that is about reminding the parent of their responsibility.
We’re close to wrapping up now, and Mr Brown’s leadership in connection with Glasgow East is called into question. He takes solace in the “very good candidate” before refusing to comment further.
And last of all, Mr Brown is told one of the stabbing victims’ families is watching. It’s a perfect curtain-call. “I want every young person in London to know it is unacceptable to go out. carrying a knife. The message has got to be very clear – you are more at risk carrying a knife than not carrying a knife. If you’re caught with a knife, you will be prosecuted and you will be punished.” And with that, Mr Brown turns on his heel and makes a quick exit. Message received and understood.
