London - The Shadow Home Secretary, Ms Ann Widdecombe, yesterday took the Police Federation annual conference by storm, in stark contrast to the hostile reception received by Mr Jack Straw.
Ms Widdecombe was given a rousing reception and lengthy ovation at the end of her address to delegates at Blackpool, telling officers they were the "best in the world".
After her address she described Deputy Prime Minister Mr John Prescott's clash with a protester yesterday as a "very, very unedifying spectacle", adding: "Now it's a matter for Tony Blair or the law." She told more than 1,000 delegates that she wanted a 10fold increase in the number of places at secure training centres for young offenders.