Tories launch election campaign

Are these the policies to beat labour with?

Your thoughts?
A_S

http://www.scottishtories.org.uk/pressrelease.asp?ID=4686[/code]

 

To pick up just one aspect:

I had a debate on this with a Head Teacher who part-applies this policy already.

I pointed out that on being "Excluded" for 2 days, most of the little scrotes probably get their Reeboks on and spend a happy 48hr pass in the local High Street / Arcades as there's often a complete absence of Parental control or interest. This gives them the opportunity to practice all the useful life skills available from the people they meet there.

She assured me that on return to School, accompanied by parent, the reasons etc were explored, an action plan agreed and the child was "on report" for two weeks or longer until they reformed. And if they do it again, they get a longer exclusion.

I suggested that what was actually needed was immediate action and to keep them within the system, but separated from their peers and given special attention so as to bring in a deterrent factor.

I also suggested that maybe "Non Teaching Days" could be earned by classes that behaved, so those who didn't were expected to attend as normal.

Am still awaiting a response from her to that one!

Of course what's really needed is a jail in each School and "Colly for Kids" somewhere nice like Dartmoor, but I don't suppose the Dept of Education would agree.

Bring back the birch...

 

(Putting on a fake Yorkshire accent...)

When I were a lad if you got into trouble at school you had the cane from the deputy head who was built like a brick sh*te house. The Head took high power binoculars up on to the roof of the school so that he could look into the local parks. After lunch breaks there would be a list of people over the tannoy he wanted to have a little 'chat' to (he was the inspiration behind John Cleese's character in Clockwise).

 

Will Scottish Tory policies be different from British Tory policies then?

Michael Howard did a Q&A session on Channel 5 last night that seemed to go alright.

 

If you do the crime you should do the time – NOT half the time

Kids should be expelled for attacking teachers – it's as simple as that

My council tax goes up and up and all I get is a wheelie bin

Labour promised us shorter hospital queues – we’re still waiting

It’s not racist to impose limits on immigration

Sounds good to me.

 

If you do the crime you should do the time – NOT half the time

Just to confirm this means that actual sentences will be shorter. The line Howard takes is that they will do what they are sentenced to rather than average of half or whatever.

The actual sentence will work out the same tho' just they will do what the judge awards.

 

No it won't, particularly in the case of mandatory minimum sentances - a 5 yr minimum sentance will then mean 5 yrs, not 2.5.

 

Tom Utley in today's Daily Telegraph writes about the PTI at Westminster School. Says he thinks the guy was ex-para and certainly sounds as such. His speciality was knuckling forehead of miscreants. Utley confirms that he hated the guy but he did as he was told. Obviously, random assault by guys who have landed once too often on their heads is an extreme measure but, to me, indicates where things went wrong. Physical punishment worked with me where the educational psychologist failed totally to impress but the methods of 1945 can surely be adapted to today. I'm told that when the tawse was allowed i n Scots schools, they ran beautifully and kids and teachers got on with what they were there to do - learn and teach.

 

Howard actually stated that the sentences themselves will be shorter. Rather than 5 years meaning 3 years, a 3 year sentence would be awarded.
3 years would then be served.

I assume they will have to look at the sentencing rules and test and adjust accordingly.

 

OK, not seen/not heard. You win!

 

http://www.tory.org.uk/tile.do?def=policy.listing.page

Honesty in sentencing

Sentencing today is often a deliberate deception – for criminals
rarely, if ever, serve the full sentence they are given. Victims are
rightly appalled when criminals sentenced to prison are released
after as little as half their term. If we are to restore confidence in
the criminal justice system, we need to ensure honesty in
sentencing.

Under a Conservative Government, criminals will serve the full
sentence handed down by the court. Sentences will be handed
down as minimum as well as maximum terms – the criminal will be
told, in open court, the minimum time that he or she will serve
behind bars.

Tougher sentences

In the majority of cases, judges and magistrates should have
discretion in the sentences they hand down, so they can fit the
punishment to the circumstances of the crime.

However, Government can also play a role by setting mandatory
minimum sentences for persistent criminals, which send a clear
message to would-be offenders about the consequences of their
actions.

If not already enacted by a Private Member’s Bill, a Conservative
Government will legislate to ensure that drug dealers convicted for
the third time serve no less than seven years in prison. We will also
impose a mandatory minimum sentence of at least three years on
a person convicted of burglary for the third time.

Accountability in sentencing

In other cases, where judges and magistrates have discretion over
sentencing, it is sensible that there are some national guidelines or
‘tariffs’, so that a degree of consistency is achieved across the country.
Currently, guidelines are set by the Sentencing Guidelines Council,
which is an unaccountable body. We believe that guidelines should
reflect public attitudes to crime and punishment more closely. The
best way of doing this is to give Parliament a role in reviewing the
decisions of the Sentencing Guidelines Council.

Under a Conservative Government, tariffs will continue to be proposed
by the Sentencing Guidelines Council, but they will require the
approval of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee. If
the Select Committee considers that guidelines fail to reflect the
seriousness of a crime, it will be able to tell the Council to think again.

 

Up the Swanney no doubt!

 

I think they are. There is some controversy as 4 of the policies from the scottish conservatives are reserved powers for holyrood, so they would have no chance to change them if they get in at the next election. Well is suppose they could put pressure on any scottich tory MSP's.

As for Mr Howard last night, i thought it went really well for him. Never before have i agreed with one parties policies so much.

Unfortunately i missed Bliars session last week

 

Thats called honesty in sentencing, not something the present govt are good at!

Smoke and mirrors anyone?