Tories hit out at 'Jeremy Kyle' yob culture

The Tories blamed Premiership footballers for fuelling Britain's yob culture today as they signalled new moves to crack down on a "Jeremy Kyle generation" of jobless young men.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling hit out and Newcastle's Joey Barton and "footballing antics like the Manchester United Christmas party" for setting a "rotten example" to youths.

Mr Grayling said that Kyle's ITV1 programme underlined just how many working-class men today abandoned their children, got involved in antisocial behaviour and relied on benefits.

He listed a string of proposals to combat the problem, including more male teachers in primary schools and new police powers to curb street yobbery.

Benefits would also be taken from those who fail to train or find work.

Mr Grayling said: "Our young boys are too often drawing lessons about life from footballers and celebrities who behave in monstrously inappropriate ways."