The two nations

Chris Grayling, shadow home secretary, has reported on his investigation into the higher incidence of crime committed against poorer people. He draws the conclusion that NuLabour has failed the very people it claimed to be wanting to help most.

-unemployed people are twice as likely to be a victim of crime than the average person (in 2008/9 7.6% of unemployed were victims, compared to 3.2% for all adults.
- those who have never worked or are long-term unemployed are more at risk of violence than someone in a professional occupation.
-households with lowest incomes (under £10,000) at most at risk of violence
-people living in the 20 percent most deprived areas in England are more at risk (4.5%) than those living in the 20 percent least deprived areas (2.2%)

From elsewhere we know that the poor, as defined by those on the left, i.e. with income less than 60% of median income, are becoming more numerous. Children growing up there are less likely to succeed educationally, even at a low level of achievement, and they like their parents are more likely to become living permanently on benefit.

Blair was prophetic in 2001 "When a culture is allowed to grow outside society's mainstream - alienated, with no hope, a culture of broken homes, truancy, poor education, drugs, no job, or dead jobs.....when we sow the seeds of such a culture, we should not be surprised at the harvest we reap." He at least saw the cause.

At the Labour Party Conference in 2008, G. Brown die not appear to see the cause of the problem, and merely waffled, "People feel their communities are changing before their eyes and it's increasing their anxiety about crime and anti-social behaviour. And so we will the be the party of law and order." He probably doesn't speak to Blair. He ought to have a word with Ian Duncan Smith or Chris Grayling.