‘Resolute’ Cameron shrugs off latest in series of policy U-turns

David Cameron has insisted his Government remains “extremely strong, resolute and determined” despite announcing an overhaul of sentencing reform, the latest in a series of embarrassing major policy U-turns.

The Prime Minister yesterday scrapped Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke’s controversial proposals to give criminals who plead guilty early a 50 per cent on their sentence, dismissing the idea as “too lenient”.

The move came only a week after the coalition announced a major shift in reform of the NHS, and follows backtracking on other plans such as selling publicly-owned forests and removing free school milk for children under five.

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But Mr Cameron claimed it was a sign of strength and confidence that his Government was prepared to listen and change its mind.

He said even the Government’s “harshest critics” would say it had an “incredibly clear view about what is necessary” for the country, such as reducing the deficit, reviving the economy and introducing bold education reforms.

“So I don’t really accept the idea that this Government isn’t extremely strong, resolute and determined,” he added. “It is, it’s seen as such and it will go on being seen as that.”

Mr Cameron insisted it was the “weak thing to do” to keep “ploughing on” when consultations on reform indicated there were better ways of doing things.

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“The tough, strong thing to do is to say ‘yes, we can make these plans better’,” he said.

“I don’t for one minute think that somehow it is weak to listen and then to act,” he added. “It is a sign of strength and confidence.”

But Labour claimed the sentencing U-turn showed the Government’s law and order policy was “in complete shambles”.

Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: “They do not have a coherent strategy for cutting crime because they are obsessed only with cutting costs.”