Howard: New pledge on travellers

Michael Howard has detailed his promise to clamp down on illegal traveller sites, denying accusations of bigotry.

The Conservative leader delivered a speech on Monday detailing a package of measures to stop unauthorised developments.

He said travellers must play by the same laws as other citizens and apply for planning permission.

The Opposition promised to repeal the 1998 Human Rights Act if necessary in a further attack on the Labour legislation.

And the Tories pledged to follow the Irish example by making it a criminal offence to refuse to "move on" from a traveller site.

Howard said: "Since they have made it a criminal offence in the Irish Republic, many travellers have come over from Ireland to this country and I do not think that is right."

The party has been forced to deny claims it is playing the race card, however.

Planning minister Keith Hill said the Opposition was "tapping into the biggest vein of bigotry - prejudice against Gypsies and travellers".

And Labour MP Kevin McNamara said Tory policies had "the whiff of the gas chambers" about them - remarks the Conservatives described as "very inflammatory".

Denial

But Howard angrily dismissed the suggestion.

"People claim it's racist to raise this issue. It is not. It has nothing to do with race," he said.

"It's about standing up for the right values. It's about common sense. And it's about making sure that people abide by the law."

"Let's engage in a proper, honest debate on a real issue, a real problem," he added.

"Let's not respond to sensible proposals with what I am afraid I'm inclined to call vulgar abuse."

Abuse

In his speech, Howard claimed that some travellers are bending planning laws and using the Human Rights Act to build settlements wherever they like.

The Tory chief insisted that Conservatives believe in freedom and that people should be at liberty to live their lives in different ways.

But he said that that freedom must be exercised while observing responsibilities to the wider community.

"I believe in fair play. The same rules should apply to everyone, whatever your background, whatever the colour of your skin, whatever your sex or religion," he said.

"I don't believe in special rules for special interest groups.

"I believe that different people from different communities should be free to lead their lives in different ways. But freedom comes with a responsibility - the responsibility to do the right thing by your community.

"Many travellers accept this, living happily in neighbourhoods across our country. Sadly, a small minority of travellers do not. They are openly abusing our planning system."

'Backfiring'

With Howard seen by critics as picking on populist issues, environment secretary Margaret Beckett launched a fresh attack on his leadership and judgement.

"His leadership is a central issue in the coming election," she said. "The more people see of him, the more they will see what a bad leader he is, and what a bad campaign he is running.

"He bounces around from issue to issue, talking point to talking point, drawing attention to problems without ever putting forward solutions. That was shown in particular by his exploitation of Mrs Dixon's shoulder operation, which I believe backfired on him rather badly.

"What his campaign is showing is that he has no vision for the country, no vision for our economy or society or public services, and so bounces around, one day asylum seekers, the next day women and abortion, then it's handguns, then it's Gypsies. It is not just opportunistic, it is nasty.

"Add to this his flip-flops on Iraq and Northern Ireland, his opportunism on terrorism, his role in the poll tax, 15 per cent interest rates, soaring inflation, three million unemployed, and his commitment to £35bn pounds worth of cuts and a clear picture emerges of someone unfit to lead our country, someone whose opportunism would present a risk to our country."

'Stoking fear'

Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Ed Davey said were "either misinformed or stoking fear and prejudice".

"Mr Howard has failed to answer the question of how the Tories will provide legal sites for travellers," he said.

"Where is he planning to put travellers? Is it in prison, on their fantasy island with asylum seekers or somewhere else? Until he answers these questions his proposals are not credible."