GRIEVING mum Caroline Shearer condemned Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg for opposing tough new measures to tackle knife crime.

Miss Shearer, of Aster Close, Clacton, said the Lib Dems appeared to have no understanding of the dangers posed to young people by knives as the furious public backlash against their opposition to mandatory jail terms grew.

The Tories plan to introduce automatic six-month jail sentences for anyone caught with a knife a second time.

Miss Shearer, whose son Jay, 17, was stabbed to death at a house party, in Marlowe Way, Colchester, said: “It is ridiculous.

“Once is enough to kill, you do not need to give them a second chance.

“Everybody out there has children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces - it’s about protecting them. If someone went up to Nick Clegg’s child and waved a knife at them would Nick Clegg really be happy?”

The Deputy Prime Minister has confirmed he would veto the introduction of what he called “headline-grabbing solutions” in the wake of the murder of Leeds teacher Ann Maguire.

He claimed he was “not soft on knife crime at all” but said he would block mandatory jail terms for repeat offenders.