Tories launch 'delivery watchdog'

Chris Grayling (left) will oversee the work of the watchdog

The Conservatives have set up a so-called "delivery watchdog" to monitor government promises and study how many are not followed through.

The party has published a dossier giving details of a number of policies set out by ministers a year ago.

The Tories say pledges on issues from counter-terrorism to medical training have all proved to be "either hot air or total failures".

Shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling will oversee the body's work.

He said ministers seemed to think they could make "headline-grabbing promises" without following them through.

"It's time ministers realised that government is about doing things, not just about announcing them."

Mr Grayling listed several examples of pledges he said had not been followed through.

Gun crime

"Last August the government promised a new initiative on gun crime - and things are still getting worse," he said.

"They promised a better training framework for medical staff - and now medical students can't find jobs.

"They promised tough new action on extraditing those who incite terrorism - but they have yet to deport several so-called 'preachers of hate'.

"And they boasted that they had the credit boom under control - since when credit levels have continued to rise sharply."