Monday’s speech and today’s announcement show them choosing their ground for the next election. And since Hunt may find no money for further tax cuts next spring, the option of a May general election is opening up.
We hurl abuse at here-today-gone-tomorrow politicians and their advisers, while the permanent state flourishes like a green bay tree.
Did those in power still believe it was right to terrify the nation into submissions with their fear-mongering campaigns warning us to stay away from our loved ones? And why did the rules constantly change and at very little notice?
The Prime Minister has stated that because of the long gestation period there will be time for consultation: this is essential. The A Level system is certainly not perfect, but neither is it completely broken.
There is a widespread desire amongst Conservatives for “dividing lines” between us and Labour. One of the least problematic and most popular would be the enactment of a parental right of access to school teaching materials.
Our university courses should look more like those in other countries and assume less specialist prior knowledge. Maybe the arrival of the Government’s four year life long learning loan is an opportunity for change.
Instead of a Conservative housing policy that emphasises home ownership and architectural beauty, it will now be done the Labour way. When tower blocks start rising over the Home Counties, I hope that our remaining MPs realise their mistake.
The demographic tide can’t be turned back, but its advance can be slowed – by the self-reinforcing triangle of stronger families, better schools, good jobs, and the stronger society that these help to build.
If stoking class wars was not the agenda, a more considered approach would be to encourage independent schools to increase bursaries to those from less advantaged backgrounds. Further depriving disadvantaged students seems a paltry alternative.
Our editor in conversation with Katy Balls and James Heale of the Spectator about schools, bubbly concrete and Gillian Keegan.
Stories like these aren’t designed for the public. Instead, they’re crafted by and for the people who consume news for a living. The jolly old game of electoral forecasting and political commentary has come to matter more than the impact of politics on voters.
How much of the post-war public sector estate is going to come to the end of its useful life over the next few decades – and how much will we end up paying for the false economy of cheap concrete?
The Government is now trying to make T levels the main vocational alternative to A levels. It is not clear that they can take on such a big role.
Ministers can do more now to further embed successful reforms and make our schools even stronger: by getting more into great trusts, and signing off another wave of free schools where they can shake things up.
This perhaps reflects the fact that with the Speech happening on 7th November, there will be little actual time for legislation in the final session of Parliament in any case.