For those of us who believe that a Corbyn-led
Labour party can win in 2002, provided that a "new approach" is adopted, which
basically means an end to the attacks on the leadership for not being
sufficiently Blairite, Monday`s "meeting of MPs and peers" provided some hope at
last (Corbyn pleads for a united party and admits Labour still has it all to
prove,10/05/16).
Not only was there a plea to turn their "fire on
this Tory government", but also common sense from Sadiq Khan, with his
observation that Labour "cannot afford to miss any open goals". They have
certainly blazed over the bar enough recently, especially with the non-existent
"northern powerhouse", and the ridiculous grammar tests, with their focus on
subordinating conjunctions and noun phrases! As if on cue, however, comes the
news that the British Virgin Islands "are resisting David Cameron`s calls to
make fresh concessions on ending tax secrecy (UK overseas territories resist
PM`s call to end tax secrecy,10/05/16). Aditya Chakrabortty tells us how such
offshore tax havens can be forced to comply with British laws by Orders in
Council,(Corruption can no longer be written off as a developing world
problem,10/05/16) whilst Corbyn himself has previously said, they are "British
crown dependent territories", and if they refuse to observe UK tax laws, there
is a precedent "for direct rule to be imposed" (UK could impose direct rule on
tax havens, says Jeremy Corbyn, 05/04/16).
Well, Mr Corbyn, after everything the Tories have
said about tax avoidance and evasion, and the obvious voters` outrage the denial
of billions to the Treasury causes, this appears to be one "open goal" not to be
missed; a start can be made at PMQs.
Ian Rankin`s admission, that he "can`t do anything"
until he has a "title", beggars belief (My working day,07/05/16). Just because
he has created the brilliant Rebus, sold millions of books, and caused
immeasurable enjoyment both here and abroad, does not mean he should have a
"title". Doesn`t he realise he needs to earn 180 times the amount of his average
employee, or avoid paying tax on an industrial scale, and with the part of the
proceeds, make huge donations to the political party of his choice, or run a
company based on short-termism, with no thought of investing to raise
productivity?
On the other hand, Lord Rebus of Fife does have a
certain ring to it!
Whilst most will agree with the director-general of
the CBI, Carolyn Fairbairn, when she criticises the government for its "lack of
preparedness for the crisis that has engulfed the steel industry", there will be
less sympathy for other aspects of her speech (CBI call for government to put up
cash for industrial strategy,05/05/16). Calling for more government funding " to
support innovation" is a little rich when the country`s industries are noted for
their short-termism and low productivity, due to profits, rather than being
ploughed into new machinery and technology, going instead to shareholders`
dividends and management`s obscene salaries and bonuses.
Any attempts by the government to encourage firms
to introduce meaningful apprenticeship schemes are given short shrift by the
CBI, and its call for ministers to address the "chronic shortage of physics
teachers" beggars belief. Funding for improved pay for teachers, and, indeed,
for a "new industrial strategy", would be far more likely if British companies,
instead of spending millions on accountants to devise the most efficient ways of
avoiding tax, actually paid up in full, like the majority of us do!
"Modal verbs, transitive verbs, intransitive verbs"
are, sadly, just the tip of the Key Stage two assessment iceberg (Primary
grammar teast would stump Jane Austen, says head,30/04/16). Primary head, Amanda
Hulme, highlighted some of the unnecessary details needed to be learned by 10
and 11 year-olds, but a brief scan of the Sample Booklet published in 2015
reveals how such tests are taking education back to the middle of the last
century, when the needs of society were rather different. Apparently, the DfE
thinks this "new, more rigorous curriculum", which requires knowledge, by year
six pupils, of present perfect and past progressive tenses, not to mention the
subjunctive form, subordinating conjunctions, noun phrases and determiners, will
help "every child fulfil their potential regardless of their circumstances".
This begs some very obvious questions, or should I say, sentences beginning with
interrogative pro-adverbs?
I don`t actually recall the CBI calling for
increased knowledge of the various parts of speech to help improve productivity,
or any of our esteemed poets, dramatists and novelists attributing their success
to their awareness that the "correct antonym" for "unbelievable" is
"plausible". No doubt the next head of Ofsted will be criticising previously
graded "outstanding" schools for not devoting sufficient time to providing a
broader curriculum, and having too many lessons aimed at learning
antiquated grammar!
As Jonn Elledge says, there may not be "water
dripping from the light fittings", but the idea of paying £1083 a month for a
room in the Collective is not only a rip-off, but deeply insulting to the young
professionals expected to live there (Up the property ladder to a tiny "twodio",
29/04 16). It seems that the government is not the only one treating young
people with contempt. Is it any wonder thousands of teachers, doctors, social
workers and the like are leaving in droves?
A quick visit to the government website,
(getintoteaching.education.gov.uk)shows how teaching is now such a "rewarding
career", no details of pay are needed! The truth is that, even with London
allowance, starting pay in the capital varies from £22.6k to £27k, just enough
to qualify them as eligible to pay back student loans, on top of tax, national
insurance, and, of course, rent.
And for what? A room "three metres square" with
a share of a "two ring kitchen hob", but with the added bonus of sharing a
common room! If ever proof was needed that the government needs to set up an
inspection and regulatory body, to stem the ever-increasing exploitation of
tenants in the private sector, the idea of the Collective is it.
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