One hundred and eighty degrees

To judge by his recent speeches, G.Brown intends to make an attack on yobbish behaviour the centre of his attempt to win re-election. His policy was also announced at the recent party conference by Home Secretary Alan Johnson. At least Brown is topical in his flailing.

At the conference Johnson said that every breach of an ASBO order will result in court action. The courts are going to be busy, then, because virtually every ASBO order is breached sooner or later.

This is to reinforced, according to the prime minister, by a plan to take away (some of) the benefits of the parents of ASBO youngsters.

This all results in an about-face.

The Treasury under, ahem, G.Brown, was one of the main obstructions to the efforts of Mr. Blair and his Respect agenda. Blair backed down, and Brown as prime minister disbanded the unit involved.

In 2002 Blair wanted to cut the benefits paid to parents of children who persistently played truant. The party made him back down, the main protagonist was, if you have not already guessed, G.Brown.

We now have Brown as prime minister back-tracking on both - getting tough on ASBO recipients and thinking of cuts to benefits.

The difference was that originally Blair was Brown's obstacle to becoming PM, now Brown's principles are an obstacle to remaining PM. How things change!