Gun crime draws leaders to city

Mr Blair had a private meeting in Moss Side

Tony Blair and David Cameron both visited projects in Manchester on a day when gun crime was placed firmly at the top of the political agenda.

The Prime Minister met community workers and reformed gang members in the Moss Side and Hulme areas.

Earlier, Tory leader Mr Cameron praised projects like the United Estates of Wythenshawe (UWE) for its attempts to get young people off the streets.

Both politicians were largely welcomed, although Mr Blair faced some protests.

The government wants to promote positive role models for youngsters in inner city Britain, and the Prime Minister was met by Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand at the Zion Arts Centre in Hulme.

The pair talked with local people about guns and gangs in a city which was once synonymous with shootings, earning it the nickname "Gunchester".

Mr Blair praised the defender for giving up his time and taking part in the meeting.

"I think for someone like Rio Ferdinand, he's someone of immense ability but grew up in circumstances that if he had not had that he could easily have taken a wrong turn himself," he said.

Earlier, the Prime Minister met with reformed gang members at a former pub, the Saltshaker, closed down by police because of trouble.

Mr Cameron made his second visit to the Wythenshawe area

The meeting was set up by Tony Winter, a former gang member turned street pastor.

"I felt that this perspective may be something that could help him in future decisions and policies," he said.

Speaking about the private meeting, Mr Blair said: "They were wanting to set support groups in the community to teach young people how not to go down that path ending up dead in the street.

"We need to use people who have actually been there, done it and gone through it to help change the lives of others."

A number of miles south of the city centre, David Cameron appeared to echo Mr Blair's words at his visit to the UWE project on a council estate in Benchill.

He told staff and young people at the centre that money should be devolved to "real people with real jobs" who run the community and voluntary groups that make a difference to children's lives.

It was Mr Cameron's second visit to the centre, run by former bouncers, at the heart of an area that gained notoriety in the 1990s for its social problems.

'Show you respect'

"The guys standing behind me are real community leaders - they're taxi drivers, they're nightclub bouncers," he said.

"They cared about their community and they set up this place and gave young people something to do.

"They gave young people respect and authority to look up to and we need to work out what more we can do as politicians to trust people like this, community groups like this."

Ex-bouncer and board member Lenny Robinson, who is likely to stand as a Conservative candidate in the May local elections, said the gym was making a difference to young people in the area.

"I was born and bred here. I've lived and worked in this area all my life and the kids show you that respect," he told the BBC.