The News of the World says

Don't mistake bribe for policy

DESPITE Gordon Brown's U-turn on the 10p tax rate, voters in Thursday's by-election are poised to deliver a merciless verdict on his government.

It was nothing more than a bribe, they believe. And one that promises to backfire with a vengeance.

With 45% support against Labour's 37%, Crewe and Nantwich looks set to give the Tories their first by-election gain since 1982.

Ramping up public spending to buy popularity for ten years has left the financial cupboard pitifully bare.

And now chancellor-turned-premier Brown is paying the price.

So too are we: with a housing market in deep gloom, petrol at eye-watering prices and shopping bills leaving even better-off families in despair.

The PM's blueprint for recovery is on the right track. But he has to ditch the self-serving eulogies boasting of his decade of economic success.

Voters—and particularly Labour loyalists—feel he has betrayed them with swingeing taxes and abject failure to improve public services.

Now he has to win back those voters, and his party, with radical and transparent policies that will make or break his premiership and his government.

And deal with the rise of militant unrest within public sector unions.

Meanwhile David Cameron can bask in the glow of an amazing turnaround. Yet he must be careful not to appear too cocky or confident.

Two years is an eternity in politics. Ask Gordon Brown.

Decency starts here

IN grief and dignity, the father of murdered teenager Jimmy Mizen spoke yesterday for a nation sickened by a yob culture of drink, drugs, thuggery and crime.

"It doesn't have to be like this," he said. "We need to look to ourselves and the values we would like."

Barry Mizen's words mark the day decency staged a fightback in this country. And not a moment too soon.

Today this paper launches a campaign to Save Our Streets.

Britain is in the grip of a meltdown of public disorder. Too much underage drinking, too much substance abuse. Too much senseless violence.

And too much glorification of so-called celebrity role models whose blatant drug taking is a shameless two-fingered salute to police and courts.

It is time to turn the tide. For our part, we pledge to expose the destroyers of our communities. But we cannot act alone.

In the words of Barry Mizen: "Change has got to come from all of us." more text for the body