Clarke's 'elimination of disrespect' should start in Cabinet

Mr Knapman said that the profile of politicians was such that they ‘set the general tone of acceptable behaviour’ for society as a whole, and yet there was little visible evidence of action being taken against ministers at senior level who showed not just disrespect, but contempt for the electorate.

Mr Knapman cited Tony Blair and his ‘dodgy dossier’ on WMD, Mr Blunkett and his nanny’s work permit, Stephen Byers and Railtrack, Peter Mandelson’s repeated indiscretions and Hazel Blear’s misleading parliament over immigration as representative of a wider malaise within government.

"Mr Clarke is not in a position to demand something from the general public which his own government is not prepared to give. The government of which he is a member has consistently sought to evade responsibility for its actions. Is this the respect which he expects?

"The New Labour project has steadily eroded the basic standards of personal responsibility which are the bedrock of respect, and replaced it with a culture based on the evasion of blame.

"Rather than spouting empty rhetoric and crocodile tears, Mr Clarke might serve his government and the nation better if he persuaded his Cabinet colleagues to practise what he is preaching." ENDS

Notes to Editors:
For further information, please contact:
Roger Knapman MEP, UKIP Leader,
Mark Croucher, UKIP Press Office, 0207-222-9365 or 07960-584161