Ministers fight it out for ‘respect’

Prime minister Tony Blair is to end a battle between ministers
over who has control of policies to create a more respectful
society.

Blair will chair the first meeting of the cabinet committee on
antisocial behaviour. It had been thought that David Miliband,
minister of communities and local government at the Office of the
Deputy Prime Minister, would have control of the “respect”
agenda.

But home secretary Charles Clarke, supported by Hazel Blears,
the Home Office minister responsible for antisocial behaviour,
believe the brief should remain with them.

A Downing Street source quoted the prime minister as saying that
Asbos are the preserve of the Home Office and both departments know
that is the case.

But a Downing Street spokesperson said it would be “ridiculous”
to suggest that there had been a turf war between the
departments.

The committee will focus on discipline in schools, stopping
abuse of public sector workers and ways of getting local
authorities to use more antisocial behaviour orders.