Major accused of 'small-minded' attack on the most vulnerable

Sitting on one of the bronze lions at the base of Nelson's Column yesterday, with Big Ben in the background, one of about 200 demonstrators who marched to Trafalgar Square to protest at neglect of the homeless. During the day John Major's condemnation of beggars came in for more criticism. The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev David Sheppard, called it 'a most draconian attack on very vulnerable people', and Tony Blair, the Labour leadership front-runner, accused the Prime Minister of 'pettiness and small-mindedness'

Reports, 2; Leading article, 11; Esther Oxford, 12; Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid

(Photograph omitted)