Theresa May leads a near zombie government
There is a type of business which the media call a zombie company. read more
Author Archives: GovWorldMag
Mr Redwood’s intervention during the Adjournment debate on School Funding Formula (London), 28 June 2017
John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): The right hon. Gentleman is making a very good point. Certainly in Wokingham, which has very low per-pupil amounts and good-performing schools, we feel there is a problem. Was not the idea of the reform to have a higher… read more
Poverty report exposes SNP’s neglect of colleges
3 Jul 2017
The SNP’s attitude to college education has been criticised in a comprehensive report about poverty in Scotland.
Poverty and inequality adviser Naomi Eisenstadt produced the document examining the causes and impact of deprivation north of the border.
It said the “social class gradient is deeply worrying” and life outcomes are too heavily based on the wealth and social class of someone’s parents.
She also said the colleges had been over-exposed to funding cuts, adding:
“The overall picture suggests that the university sector has had greater protection from hard financial times than the further education and the college sector.”
The Scottish Conservatives have repeatedly attacked the SNP’s record on colleges.
Last month, it emerged the number of people studying at college in Scotland had fallen to a decade low, while the number of part-time students had dropped by 18 per cent.
Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Annie Wells said:
“Education is such a key route in getting people out of a cycle of poverty.
“Yet now we see that SNP policies on free tuition are actually hindering that for many.
“They have led to colleges getting squeezed, even though they are so vital in delivering people the skills and education they need to make a difference for them and their families.
“This is why the Scottish Government must face up to the reality of its universal free tuition, and realise the damage it is doing to those who need help the most.
“The report also makes it abundantly clear that the gap between rich and poor in Scotland remains far too wide.
“This is the cost of having an SNP government which has completely ignored the needs of those who are worst-off in pursuit of its own constitutional goals.
“It’s more apparent in Nicola Sturgeon’s constituency than anywhere else in Scotland just how desperate life can be in our deprived areas.
“These findings should be a wake-up call for a complacent Scottish Government.”
To see the full report, visit: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0052/00522051.pdf
read more
News story: Defence research and exports support UK jobs
Defence’s contribution to the UK economy was on show today as Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin visited the south west to hear how Ministry of Defence (MOD) research and industrial partnerships are supporting UK jobs, exports, and capability. read more
Jeremy Corbyn appoints 20 MPs to Labour’s front bench
Following Labour’s advances in the general election and increased number of MPs, Jeremy Corbyn is today announcing 20 appointments to the shadow front bench. These include new and returning MPs.
Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, said:
“I’m delighted to be filling Labour’s shadow front bench with a wealth of talent. Our new shadow ministers will bolster the excellent work of Labour’s shadow cabinet and departmental teams.
“These appointments are further evidence that Labour is not just the opposition – we are the government in waiting.”
The new appointments are:
DEFRA
David Drew
Holly Lynch
Home Affairs
Nick Thomas Symonds
Chris Williamson
Afzal Khan
Louise Haigh
Scotland
Paul Sweeney
Justice
Gloria de Piero
Imran Hussain
International Development
Roberta Blackman Woods
Transport
Rachael Maskell
Karl Turner
Treasury
Anneliese Dodds
Housing
Tony Lloyd
Melanie Onn
Women and equalities
Carolyn Harris
Defence
Gerald Jones
Local Government
Yvonne Fovargue
Education
Tracey Brabin
Wales
Chris Ruane
Further appointments are expected in due course.
read more