Britain is facing a "collapse of authority" where young people no longer respect adults or institutions, a senior Conservative will warn.
Shadow trade and industry secretary Alan Duncan will say it is up to the Tories to "re-civilise" the country.

In a speech in London, Mr Duncan will say the UK is "condemned to decline" if young people cannot be controlled.

His comments come as armed police patrol south London after three youths were shot dead in the past fortnight.

"The greatest problem we need to address in Britain is that it is steadily becoming de-civilised," he will tell the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank.

'Exert control'

Mr Duncan will liken some young people in modern Britain to those in William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies, where a group of children descended into barbarism after being stranded on a desert island.

He will call for school teachers to be empowered to "exert the control that too many parents are unwilling or unable to exert".

"The collapse of authority cannot remain undiscussed. If there is no fear of authority, there is no respect for it," he will say.

"It cannot make sense in a civilised society for children of school age to face the discipline they need in court rather than in class or in the home."

'Worn-out divisions'

Mr Duncan will praise party leader David Cameron for "decontaminating the Conservative brand".

He will say the party under Mr Cameron has championed a vision of social responsibility which "transcends worn-out divisions shaped by class, age and wealth".

Mr Duncan will say he is more optimistic about the Tories' fortunes than he has been for 15 years.

"We can afford to be braver. If we are to see the social responsibility we are striving for - we must make sure that as politicians we show that courage now."

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