David Cameron, the Conservative leader, has declared that the recent spate of teenage murders shows that British society has “broken down” and that helping families must be the priority for government, over economic growth.

Mr Cameron cited the United Nations report showing that British children were the unhappiest in the developed world, and declared that the shootings showed that “our society is badly broken and we need to make some big changes, starting now.”

Meanwhile, Tony Blair has sought to play down the significance of the South London shootings, insisting that they are unique and not symptomatic of wider problems in society.

The two political leaders set out dramatically different ways of dealing with the problem, with Mr Blair promising new laws on gun crime and criminal gangs, while Mr Cameron pledged a crackdown on feckless fathers, and increased support for teachers dealing with wayward pupils.

Mr Blair, fearing that the shootings would be seen as an indictment of his ten years in power, said that they were shocking but must be seen in context.

In contrast, in a speech to a youth project in his constituency of Witney, near Oxford, the Tory leader risked angering business leaders by saying that he would make helping families a priority over wealth creation.

“Let us have no more grand-standing about the exclusive importance of competitiveness in business. Nothing matters more than children. I passionately believe that the quality of life matters just as much as the quantity of money.”

Mr Cameron insisted that the Government crack down on fathers who don’t support their children, and that it must help families stay together. He suggested tax breaks for married couples, and extending financial support for childcare to grandparents, aunts and uncles.

He also called for a return to authority for parents and teachers. He said that it was “madness” for teachers to be undermined by outside evaluators when imposing discipline, for teachers to face prosecution for abuse if they restrain a child bully, and for schools to cancel outdoor trips for fear of mishaps. Carol Midgely, page 21

Times Recommends

• Oh no, Mr Darling: you have failed
• BBC survives dogfight over Kennel Club expose
• Where the Rosetta belongs can’t be set in stone