Crime must not end hope - Clegg

Liberalism is not "ginger beer doctrine", Mr Clegg says

Politicians who impose "disaster" measures after crimes like the killing of Baby P or kidnap of Shannon Matthews damage society, Nick Clegg will say.

The Lib Dem leader will say that the reaction to the murder of two-year-old Jamie Bulger in 1993 led to a "massive upswing" of young people in custody.

Mr Clegg will tell the think-tank Demos that it is important to have "an optimistic attitude towards people".

He will also warn against a "lurch back" to 1970s economic policies.

'Evil'

During his speech Mr Clegg will discuss the cases of Karen Matthews, found guilty earlier this month of kidnapping her daughter Shannon, and the step-father who beat 17-month-old Baby P to death.

He will also talk about the father in Sheffield who raped his two daughters over a period of 20 years.

There are minor miracles done by parents, teachers, carers, total strangers, every day in schools, hospitals, homes, playgrounds Nick Clegg

Mr Clegg will say: "Evil may be the right word to describe what some individuals have done to others, especially their own children.

"But our outrage as a people, our fury, our determination to stamp out these crimes wherever we can, shows that, as a society, we are moral, we are decent."

He will add: "It is disaster politics to assume otherwise."

On the case of Jamie Bulger, who was killed by two children in Liverpool, Mr Clegg will implicitly criticise former prime minister Tony Blair's response.

'Damaged adults'

Mr Blair was shadow home secretary at the time of the murder, which was widely said to have prompted his promise to be "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime".

Mr Clegg is expected to say: "We know that it was the disaster politics response to the killing of Jamie Bulger that led to a massive upswing in the number of children in prison or prison-like secure accommodation.

"And we know it isn't doing any good. It isn't cutting crime. It's just turning fragile children into damaged adults - turning out a generation of career criminals."

He will insist that liberalism is "not just a ginger beer doctrine for sunny days and picnics", adding: "Most parents, almost all parents, are loving, caring, and put themselves last when it comes to decisions that affect their children.

"There are minor miracles done by parents, teachers, carers, total strangers, every day in schools, hospitals, homes, playgrounds. Acts of kindness that are the overwhelming majority of human experience."

Mr Clegg will say: "Like all liberals, I have an optimistic attitude towards people. That most people, most of the time, will make the right decisions for themselves, their family and their community."

Turning to the economy, Mr Clegg will accuse Prime Minister Gordon Brown of a "spectacular failure" to apply proper business rules.

He will add: "What we need now is a resetting of the rules which govern a dynamic, liberal economy - not a lurch back towards the economic policies of the 1970s."