Child Murder IS Headline News

Many of you will have seen the reports last week about the death of Amro Elbadawi, the14 year old boy stabbed near his home on Dart Street in Queen’s Park. This was a tragic loss, the third stabbing of a teenager in this constituency in 14 months and the second death. In a sombre meeting with his father last week, I listened to a devastated but dignified parent desperate for something to be done.

So you can imagine how angry I was when Ken Livingtone dismissed the importance of the incident and criticised the press for focusing too much on violent crime. “If it bleeds, it leads,” he snorted when asked to comment on the epidemic of teenage violence in London.

I could not disagree with him more. This is the murder of a child, by another child. In a supposedly civilised society. The people of Queen's Park have displayed remarkable community spirit, rallying together and behind the police (who have also been fantastic) but they are shaken and worried. Why should this not be headline news except to protect Ken Livingstone from the tragic truth?

We need the press to keep reporting on this issue so people are aware of the reality on our streets. Under this Labour government, literacy levels in the UK are appallingly low. Social mobility is a fantasy if you are born on a housing estate and the gap between rich and poor has never been wider. This chills me to the bone because if people have no opportunity to realise their potential or their dreams, where is the incentive to change their lives?

The fact that so many teenagers carry weapons is a symptom of this widespread social and family breakdown. All of this needs to change but the immediate issue is preventing further deaths.

We need to educate our children, schools and parents so that, with a concerted effort, we reduce the carrying of weapons, There are many organisations experienced in dealing with deprived families and youth gangs (“My Generation” for example) and we must make sure that we put their expertise to good use.

I will not stop talking about this until positive steps are taken throughout our constituency and the press will not be criticised by me for leading on Amro’s death, or any of the issues it has brought to light. The murder of a 14 year old child is front page news in my book and I am grateful to the media for ensuring that this issue is kept at the top of the political agenda.