Politics (and other political stuff)

Adrian

9615

31 May 2017, 8:54 pm

#1092

(30 May 2017, 9:02 pm)Andreos1 I'm surprised how quiet this thread is in the run up the General Election.
Particularly after the discussion we had around Brexit and the US elections.

Anyway, trying to stimulate discussion...
Any thoughts on www.schoolcuts.org.uk?

Not been on the forum a lot in general as of late! Got quite a lot on with the General Election, as I'm working with a few social media teams on that. We usually get a break after the locals too. Smile

(31 May 2017, 12:05 pm)Chris That school cuts website is on my ever increasing list of things to look at. Never had the chance to yet.

Like buses, my interest in politics far exceeds my knowledge. I particularly look forward to Adrian's contributions in this thread.

What's fascinated me is the way both campaigns appear to have been run. Out of the 2 main parties, one party has pushed their manifesto as an offer of hope and promise; whilst the other concentrates on soundbites and smears. 'Vote for us and we'll cost it later' is the impression I get.

What's also been apparent to me is the latent bias of the mainstream media. Including, shamefully, the BBC; whose reporting I used to hold in the highest regard. A look at who owns our mainstream media, and the pledges on leveson 2 in one party's manifesto, reveals why. As an example, today's newspaper headlines major in on Jeremy Corbyn needing to look up the figure that he didn't know off the top of his head. Imagine that - a politician attempting to give an honest answer instead of guessing, and getting lampooned for it! Diane Abbott has had similar treatment. But when Theresa May forgets where she is, or Phillip Hammond knocks £20b off the cost of HS2, or Michael Fallon's lies reduce Robert Peston to banging his head on his desk - it's foot notes at best.

It is well worth having a look at the School Cuts website. A very comprehensive resource, and one we've actively used in local campaigning. Placards showing the cuts for a specific school, outside of the school gates. Unbelievably, we've managed to upset the odd headteacher in the process. You'd think they'd be more outraged by the cuts themselves, rather than those pointing them out...!

Back in 2010, the Coalition made a big thing about 'protecting' school funding in England. It wasn't so much investing in it, but protecting it from the savage cuts seen elsewhere in the public sector. Of course, that didn't stop many of our local authority schools becoming academies. Whilst that in itself was billed as a choice, because of the additional powers academies gained, it would be incredibly difficult to remain a sole LEA school with academies around you. Academies are ran as businesses, and can compete with others for student numbers - the whole concept of catchment areas is out the window... but the LEA schools can't do this, so would be lake of sharks with the arms and legs tied together.

Anyhow, since 2015, the Tories have went after schools and the education budget. They've slashed £2.8 billion since 2015, and between now and 2022, want to cut a further £8.9 billion. They reckon 93% will lose out with the new funding formula. Budget needs of schools continue to grow and grow, in order to provide even what we'd consider a 'basic' education, these cuts are going to give headteachers a huge problem - remember a headteacher is a MD of an academy, so is being expected to act like one.

Around 60% of schools already running at a deficit, so I guess the question is what happens to them? They'll of course be expected to reduce their budget, but how can you possibly do this without impacting on education? Class sizes will continue to grow to astronomic levels, and the standard of teaching will drop. That is not because of the teachers ability, but because they can't work miracles.

(31 May 2017, 12:57 pm)Andreos1 It's interesting you mention that. Haven't long had a discussion with the other half about the same thing.

Coincidentaly, this has just appeared on my twitter feed.
https://twitter.com/LabourLeft/status/86...3117662212

Corbyn has announced he is going to go to Cambridge tonight. Will it be Rudd or May for the other side?

I thought Corbyn was good tonight, and I think it was a good move for him to go to it. The whole panel have made it look ridiculous that Theresa May did not attend, and quite rightly so. Its just a shame that the BBC person was such a poor chair of the debate!

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