Riots in UK resulted from 'welfarism' - UKIP

Over the last 40 years, a middle-class liberal elite has gradually degraded the discipline in society

Riots are hardly a new phenomenon in Britain, but they usually follow a political or religious protest. It would seem, prima facie, that the recent riots actually seemed to have criminal roots. But this is too simplistic. For more than seven years - I have been visiting some of the estates in my constituency, usually at the request of people, often pensioners who are living in fear of "neighbours from hell" or groups of young men and women that roam the streets after dark - like packs of feral dogs.

Like most of our modern politicians - I came from a middle-class, middle-England background. These areas were as unknown to me as Mars or Venus. They are often loosely referred to in the media as "deprived" areas. But they are not. They consist of houses, usually semi-detached three-bedroom properties and small but adequate gardens. In more fashionable areas, they would command significant prices. Many are beautifully kept and cared for, something which surprised me. Most of the people are good people, in every sense of the word.

Although, there are also wrong 'uns. Here lies the rub. Over the last 40 years, middle-class liberal elite has gradually degraded the discipline in society. State schools seem to live in a world where children and teachers are regarded as equals. Police forces have metamorphosed into police "services", with senior officers recruited for their politically correct "right on" attitudes. The Crown Prosecution Service seems to deliberately avoid confrontation with neighbours from hell, as does the council. Antisocial Behaviour Orders are a mark of social status; young peoples' role models are drug dealers. Many of the youngsters are unemployable, even if there were jobs. The cancer of welfarism keeps people in a twilight world of semi-poverty, lack of self-esteem and despair. We now have a third generation, who do not even expect to work.

We need to put in some immediate and permanent responses. They are both obvious and practical. A switch to workfare. No money for able bodied people without a contribution to society. Litter picking and graffiti removal would be a start. Let us get people back into the work habit. Getting up in the morning and catching a bus to the council depot would keep youngsters off the streets and restore self-respect. Those with good records at this could move to more interesting work, with more skill acquisition opportunities.

We need zero tolerance of petty crime and antisocial behaviour, which is where respect for the law starts. Discipline in schools restored and teachers given 100 per cent support for its enforcement. A restoration and retraining of the police as a force, this is a difficult one because it has been allowed to slide quite a way. This of course would also restore morale. A revamp of the Crown Prosecution Service to retarget criminals, not victims. A reshuffle at the Home Office and Ministry of Justice - especially, at senior civil service level where defeatism seems to reign.

Perhaps, a review of public sector broadcasting, long an anachronism, where so many apologists for antisocial behaviour lurk with private political agendas. More short term, a freeze on both European Union and overseas aid contributions - which have now reached the phenomenal level of £70m per day to kick-start these ideas, as well as compensation for those betrayed people of middle England who have borne the brunt of crime and taxes for so long.

Godfrey Bloom is the UK Independence Party MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, in Britain