"It's a two-horse race"

The Herald

Jody Dunn, the LibDem candidate for Hartlepool, predicted yesterday that next week's by-election was a "two-horse race" between Labour and the Lib Dems.

With just eight days to go before the poll to decide who should succeed Peter Mandelson – the former Labour cabinet minister who gave up his seat to become a European commissioner – the LibDem contender said: "We are in very close second. We are the clear challengers to Labour. I am confident we can win it."

Mark Oaten, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, yesterday unveiled plans to allow communities to decide how some minor offenders are
punished. Panels of local people would decide punishment for offences like graffiti and antisocial behaviour.

Under Mr Oaten's "tough liberalism" plans, teenage joyriders could be sent on go-karting courses to cut re-offending and vandals forced to repair property they damage. Victims of crime would have a say in
the punishment of offenders.

Mr Oaten told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the idea of recruiting residents to the panels was a "tough option" against offenders. "They would often have to face the person they committed a crime against and they would also have to pay back the community," he said. "I think it might actually reduce offending and make the community feel they are getting justice done in their area."