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Politics
Partnership between Jesus College Oxford and Wales’ brightest students unveiled at major education summit
The partnership between the University of Oxford College and the Welsh Government’s Seren Network will see a selection of Wales’ brightest students attend a bespoke summer school at Jesus College in August this year.
Students from each of the 11 Seren Network hubs across Wales will be given the opportunity to apply for the four-day summer school, where they will sample student life and attend lectures on demography, artificial intelligence, climate, trade, politics and literature.
Unveiled today by Welsh Government Minister for Lifelong Learning and the Welsh Language at the Seren Network’s second annual Beyond the Curriculum conference in mid-Wales, the summer school is thought to be the first aimed at solely Welsh students.
Speaking at the event, Welsh Government Minister for Lifelong Learning and the Welsh Language, Alun Davies, said:
“Raising the aspirations and attainment levels of Welsh school pupils to help them reach their academic potential is an ongoing priority for Welsh Government, and the Seren Network is playing a pivotal role in this ambition.
“Since its inception in 2015, the Network has quickly grown to a recognised and valuable vehicle through which some 2000 of the brightest pupils in Wales are now channelling and honing their academic talents.
Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, the Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, said:“Today’s announcement adds another tangible benefit for students. By enabling Wales’ most academically gifted pupils to sample life at one of the world’s best academic institutions, we are demonstrating that educational excellence is well within their reach, and equipping them with hands-on support and guidance to make sure they reach the top.
“Jesus College is incredibly proud of its enduring connection to Wales, a connection that goes back to the College’s foundation in 1571. This new initiative will help ensure that we continue to welcome future generations of talented Welsh students here in Oxford.
“The Seren Network works in partnership with organisations including the Sutton Trust to identify all opportunities and support Seren students to make informed decisions about their futures. Morgan Cronin, from the Merthyr-RCT Seren hub, attended a Sutton Trust-organised summer school at Yale and now has an unconditional offer to study there.”
John McDonnell response to the Government’s u-turn on £2 billion NICs rise in the Budget
John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to the Government’s u-turn on its £2 billion NICs rise in the Budget last week, said:
“This is a humiliating reversal for the Chancellor forced upon him by Labour’s opposition. His authority is now shredded after just one Budget, and he tore up a manifesto commitment to do it.
“We
welcome the Government’s decision to finally listen to Labour’s calls made in
Jeremy Corbyn’s Budget response along with those of business groups like the
Federation of Small Businesses to not go ahead with an unfair £2bn tax rise on
low and middle earners. But they should never have been placed in this position
to start with, and now we face yet another Tory Budget only a year on with a
blackhole in the billions. In 2015, we had the tax credit shambles. In 2016, we
had Personal Independence Payments reversal. Now in 2017 we have the u-turn on
National Insurance Contributions.
“There will be millions of working people who are now breathing a sigh of
relief, but it is the Chancellor who should be holding his breath as
this episode throws up urgent questions that he and the Cabinet must now
answer.
“Did the Prime Minister or the rest of the Cabinet, who must have seen the Budget in advance and known this measure was to be implemented, raise their concerns with the Chancellor before he announced it, worrying millions of families? It was in the weekend papers before the Budget so they can’t say they were unaware it was to happen.
“This is also the second year we have had a Tory Budget with a black hole in it worth billions. This is not acceptable. What will he do to fill the shortfall in a Budget he delivered less than a week ago without pursuing unfair tax increases or further cuts to public services? As the Budget will still see working people £1,400 worse off under the Government.
“On the day the Brexit Secretary has admitted that he hasn’t looked into the costs of the Prime Minister’s negotiating strategy, this is yet more proof that there is disarray at the top of a government clearly making things up as they go along.
“We need answers from the Chancellor and accountability at the top of government. In no workplace would such practices be allowed to continue, and it should not be allowed from those responsible for the public finances. Labour’s new roundtable on self-employment will bring together business organisations, trade unions and self-employed groups to lay out a serious and realistic strategy to provide a fair deal for the self-employed at a time of major labour market changes. We are proud to be the party of working people, small businesses, and the self-employed.”
read moreGrounds for indyref2 have ‘collapsed’
15 Mar 2017
The Scottish Conservatives have said the justification for a second referendum on independence has “collapsed” following SNP admissions it has dumped plans for immediate EU membership.
In reports today, SNP sources confirmed that an independent Scotland would no longer seek to apply to become a member of EU after a vote for separation.
This is despite the fact that Nicola Sturgeon has used the decision to leave the European Union as a reason for holding another divisive referendum on independence – and has consistently said her plan is to apply for EU membership.
It comes as new polls today reveal that support for independence has fallen.
The same poll shows that only 35 per cent of people want the SNP to spend the next two years diverting attention away from the day job and on another referendum campaign.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:
“Nicola Sturgeon’s grounds for a referendum have simply given way beneath her.
“We are told an immediate referendum campaign is necessary because we are leaving the European Union.
“Yet the SNP is u-turning on immediate EU membership and saying Scotland wouldn’t seek to become a member.
“If European Union membership is the reason for a referendum, what is the point of holding one if the plan isn’t go back in?
“Nicola Sturgeon’s reckless referendum plan has collapsed under the weight of its own contradictions.
“As even the SNP acknowledges, the UK union is by far Scotland’s most important market place and partner.
“Independence would wreck that union. It is time for the SNP to stop the games, and get back to the day job it has ignored for the last 10 years.”
It was reported today that the SNP no longer wants to immediately reapply for EU membership in the event of independence:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/15/nicola-sturgeon-abandons-bid-remain-eu-poll-shows-record-level/
Green Party: Low unemployment rate masks soaring number of zero hours contracts
15 March 2017
The Green Party welcomes the falling unemployment rate but is concerned the figures mask the growing insecurity faced by workers.
According to figures published today, the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.7%, the lowest level in 12 years [1].
However, other statistics also published today reveal 905,000 people are now employed on zero hours contracts, an increase of about 101,000 in a year [2].
Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:
“While we welcome news that the unemployment rate has dropped to such a low level, the reality is more people than ever are employed on precarious zero hours contracts. With inflation rising and wage growth stalling, the high employment rate masks the insecurity faced by British families.
“Zero hours contracts are part of a gig economy that facilitates the exploitation of workers and companies are failing to fulfil their moral and legal duty to give their workers secure employment and basic rights.
“In this age of insecurity we should be thinking big about how we build an economy that works for everyone. That’s why the Government should follow the lead of countries like Finland which are investigating the merits of introducing a basic income, to stop people falling into poverty, while providing the choice, security and stability they need.”
Notes:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/unemployment-rate-falls-to-lowest-since-2005
- https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/people-in-employment-on-a-zero-hours-contract-mar-2017