The secret paper of Tony Blair (AOL UK)

[KXX4493553 at aol.com]

THE LEAKED MEMO IN FULL

Touchstone issues: 

There are a clutch of issues - seemingly disparate - that are in fact linked. 
We need a strategy that is almost discreet, focused on them. They are roughly 
combining 'on your side' issues with toughness and standing up for Britain. 
They range from: the family - where, partly due to MCA (married couples' 
allowance) and to gay issues, we are perceived as weak; asylum and crime 
where we are perceived as 'soft' and asserting the nation's interests, where, 
because of the unpopularity of Europe, a constant barrage of small stories 
beginning to add up on defence and even issues like Zimbabwe, we are seen as 
insufficiently assertive.

All this, of course, is perception. It is bizarre that any government I lead 
should be seen as anti-family. We are, in fact, taking very tough measures on 
asylum and crime. Kosovo should have laid to rest any doubts about our 
strength in defence. But all these things add up to a sense that the 
government - and this even applies to me - are somewhat out of touch with gut 
British instincts.

The Martin case - and the lack of any response from us that appeared to 
empathise with public concern and then channel it into the correct course - 
has only heightened this problem.

We need a thoroughly worked out strategy, stretching over several months, to 
regain the initiative in this area. Each of these issues should be analysed 
and the correct policy response drawn up. Then each should be dealt with, but 
with a message that ties it all together. This is precisely the sort of thing 
AC and CF [Alistair Campbell and Charles Falconer] should do if a new system 
is put in place which frees up their time.

My thoughts are: 
i) Possibly on the Martin case, asking a senior judge to look at changing the 
sentencing law, ie. to allow lesser sentences than life. We also need far 
tougher rebuttal or alternatively action, re. the allegations that jurors 
were intimidated.

ii) On asylum, we need to be highlighting removals and decisions, plus if the 
April figures show a reduction, then a downward trend. Also if the benefits 
bills really start to fall, that should be highlighted. Plus some of the 
genuine asylum claims should be given some publicity.

iii) On crime we need to highlight the tough measures: compulsory tests for 
drugs before bail; the PIU (Performance Innovation Unit) report on the 
confiscation of assets; the extra number of burglars jailed under 'three 
strikes and you're out'. Above all, we must deal now with street crime, 
especially in London. When the figures are published for six months to April, 
they will show a small, 4%, rise in crime. But this will almost entirely be 
due to the rise in levels of street crime - mobile phones, bags being 
snatched. This will be worst in London. The Met police are putting in place 
measures to deal with it; but as ever we lack a tough public message along 
with the strategy. We should think now of an initiative, eg. locking up 
street muggers. Something tough, with immediate bite, which sends a message 
through the system. Maybe the driving licence penalty for young offenders. 
But this should be done soon, and I, personally should be associated with it.

iv) On defence, we need to make the CSR (Comprehensive Spending Review) work 
for defence. Big cuts and you can forget any hope of winning back ground on 
'standing up for Britain'.

v) On the family, we need two or three eye-catching initiatives that are 
entirely conventional in terms of their attitude to the family. Despite the 
rubbish about gay couples, the adoption issue worked well. We need more. 

I should be personally associated with as much of this as possible.

TB
29 April 2000