Respect. It’s the new buzzword.

It sent the Prime Minister to Swindon last week as Tony Blair unveiled his respect campaign. But it’s not just a campaign: it comes with a ‘respect action plan’.

According to the 10 Downing Street website, the proposals will "deter bad behaviour and invest in good behaviour."  The PM said respect was about the consideration that other people are due.

He could have saved himself a 150 mile journey. London SW1 would have been a better place to start a respect campaign. Low level disorder has long been a feature of that failing institution called the House of Commons. At Prime Minister’s Questions, boorish MPs shouted down Lib Dem leadership-hopeful Sir Menzies Campbell. ‘Ming’ can look after himself. But how can MPs expect anyone to listen to a anything they say about anti-social behaviour?

In a word, how can they expect respect?