CYP Now - NCB Now: Comment - The Government must revisit its first principles

Opinion on the election has been sharply divided: some call it an historic third term, others a bloody nose for Blair. As the dust begins to settle, what will its reduced majority really mean for the Government? And what impact will this have on children and young people?

It could be argued that the New Labour project has consistently been caught between two political imperatives: the drive for social reform and the urge to retain the popular vote with what might - perhaps unfairly - be termed Tory-lite policies. Into this latter camp fall issues such as anti-social behaviour and asylum where the Government's agenda has, intentionally or not, assisted in further marginalising children in trouble.

Following the election there must surely be a danger that the Government will err on the side of crowd pleasing.

That is why when Tony Blair speaks of bringing back respect to schools and communities it is hard not to feel a frisson of disquiet. Will this simply mean more punitive measures which fail to take into account the root causes of young people's behaviour?

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