It also separated Mr Blair from Labour's reputation for being soft on crime, earned in the 1960s when Roy Jenkins, a liberalising Labour home secretary, had supposedly invented the permissive society.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

On a recurring basis, some young recruits, stunned by stress or by the recognition that they have stepped from the comforts of home and a permissive society into the Spartan ranks of an organization that exists to fight the nation's enemies, have been known to admit to anything to gain discharge.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Message from a Marine: Don��t Break the Military