TONY Blair is always on the look out for a gimmick to capture some positive headlines. They are usually ill-considered and unworkable, like the quickly-ditched plan to march yobs to cashpoints.

The same is true of Downing Street's latest wheeze, which would see licensees pay for any damage to their premises caused by drunken louts.

York landlords are right to be outraged by the suggestion. They already have a legal responsibility for drinkers. But this goes too far.

Why should the owner or tenant of a damaged property pay for the damage, rather than the idiot who wrecked it?

This daft plan smacks of a Government which has lost its way.

Updated: 10:11 Tuesday, December 02, 2003