"Crime is only the worst example, but it is a paradigm for other Labour policy disasters. No one tells the voters that crime is falling: let them stay scared senseless"
- Polly Toynbee
About this Quote
This quote by Polly Toynbee is referring to the Labour Party's policy on criminal activity. She is recommending that the Labour Party has actually stopped working to attend to the issue of criminal activity, and instead has actually used it as a tool to terrify the general public. She thinks that the Labour Party has actually not been truthful with the general public about the falling criminal offense rates, and instead has used fear strategies to manipulate the public into voting for them. Toynbee is indicating that the Labour Party's policy on criminal activity is a catastrophe, and that it is a prime example of their other policy failures. She is recommending that the Labour Party must be truthful with the public about the falling crime rates, instead of using worry to control them. Toynbee's quote is a criticism of the Labour Party's policy on crime, and a require them to be more sincere with the general public.
"Addiction should never be treated as a crime. It has to be treated as a health problem. We do not send alcoholics to jail in this country. Over 500,000 people are in our jails who are nonviolent drug users"