Christian party calls for fairer government in wake of riots

After a third day of rioting in London and Birmingham destroyed hundreds of businesses and left 25 families homeless, the Christian People's Alliance has blamed government policies, which it says are out of touch with the needs of young people.

CPA leader Alan Craig said last night: "Deep social inequality, the promotion of consumerism and the loss of hope for young people blighted by high unemployment must all be acknowledged before the riots in Britain's inner cities can be overcome.

Craig said: "The rioting has to stop. Thank God for our brave police and also for Christians working in the inner cities of our country to offer hope, where many have lost all hope in the face of an economic downturn and government austerity measures. There is no excuse for mindless violence and avarice. But neither must we demonise these young people - they are the children of the richest generation Britain has ever known.

"The Government are wrong to say this is just about looting and nothing to do with them. Cabinet millionaires are simply out of touch with the reality that huge numbers of excluded young people have had any hope robbed from them by a government that works for the interests of the well-off and comfortable.

"Persistent unemployment among young people is known to damage them for life. Rioters see the promises of consumer wealth going to others, while their routes out of exclusion into society are cut off as education support, such as the EMA, is removed and jobs are closed to them.

"As a first step, the Coalition needs to rethink its economic priorities and come up with 'Plan B' that boosts demand, generates revenues to pay off the national debt and gets people back into meaningful work. They then must commit themselves to greater social equality."

Alan Craig led the opposition on Newham Borough Council as a CPA councillor until last year and has lived in the East End of London for 30 years.