MIDDLE-CLASS Brits taking cocaine at dinner parties are partly to blame for the epidemic of stabbings across the country, a top Labour MP has said.

Chuka Umunna said we should treat rising levels of youth violence as a disease, not a crime, and insisted that the entire population have to take responsibility for the drugs problem sweeping across Britain.

The Streatham MP told Good Morning Britain today: "This is an issue for everybody. It's not just black kids killing black kids as sometimes it's depicted.

"This affects everyone.

"Let's not forget, middle class cocaine and drug use is helping to underpin the drugs market. "

He was talking after three people were shot overnight in the capital, and the wave of stabbings continues.

Knife crime has soared to a seven-year high, fresh figures out last month showed - up 16 per cent in the last year.

At least 51 people have been fatally stabbed in London since the beginning of the year.

The MP will later today call for a public health model to tackle the crisis, and argue that it has been used "very successfully" in Scotland.

"We now need to take a fresh look at this problem because we have failed to stop this tragedy," he will say.

Mr Umunna will argue we should help kids use talent to find proper jobs so they don't get drawn into drug trafficking and other crime.

And the "left out" areas of our cities need extra attention with a national strategy.

A Home Office spokeswoman said today: "Knife crime has devastating consequences on our communities, and our Serious Violence Strategy signals a step change in balancing a law enforcement response with a multi-agency approach."

She added: "Last month the Home Secretary announced doubling the Early Intervention Fund to £22 million to help youth groups and communities provide young people with positive choices and steer them away from crime."