Young people are the main victims of Britain’s knife crime epidemic.
So when they speak up on the issue their voices deserve to be heard.
Yesterday they delivered a letter to Downing Street setting out a 12-point manifesto on keeping our streets safe.
Boris Johnson needs to read it.
It notes how the loss of youth services, the lack of job opportunities and poor housing have all contributed.
Blame also lies with social media firms which continue to allow material that glamorises and, in some cases, promotes violence.
The Prime Minister has promised to reverse the reduction in police numbers overseen by his predecessor. But this is not nearly enough.
We must end the austerity that has seen community services close and left many young people without hope or opportunity.
Too many lives have already been lost this year and too many families have suffered the grief and trauma of a bereavement. This misery can only be ended if those in power show the compassion and leadership required.
Act on asthma
The number of people dying from asthma has risen by a third in the past 10 years.
What makes this so shocking is many of these deaths could have been prevented.
A review commissioned by the Department of Health five years ago set out a detailed plan on how to help people with the condition.
But Asthma UK says only one of the 19 recommendations has been implemented.
The Government’s failure to act is costing lives. Cleaning up our dirty air is one part of the equation – ministers also need to improve the care and advice available to the country’s 4.8 million asthma sufferers.
Fab day out
Hundreds of fans came together yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ Abbey Road album.
They brought the long and winding road outside the famous studios to a standstill.
