During the recent local election in Southwark, Labour made a pledge to introduce free school meals to all primary school children across the borough. This was unfunded. They probably didn't expect to win (they weren't the only ones, sadly). Anyway, they did and now they are trying to find ways to fulfil this pledge or maybe a way of backing out of it while saving face...
Primary schools in Southwark are being invited to take part in a local pilot beginning in September. Schools taking part will choose 1 year group, those children will be offered free school meals and the school will be offered additional support in working with children, school staff and parents/carers on understanding the benefits of healthy meals on long-term health and wellbeing and maintenance of a healthy weight. The findings will then be analysed alongside the results of 3 ongoing national pilots (in Newham, Wolverhampton & Durham) to inform the roll-out to all schools in the borough.
Several things about this idea trouble me. Firstly, the 3 national pilots have been up and running for 1 year already and are being co-ordinated by the DfE, with research ongoing by NCSR , into not simply the issue of obesity but also behaviour, concentration and academic attainment. The Southwark approach seems a bit of a stop-gap, 'on the hoof' idea with no real focus. Why do this when a national, properly funded study is mid-way along and will report its findings about 18 months from now? How is the study of 1 year group per school going to, for instance, inform the Council about the capital investment necessary to enable that school to offer free school meals to all its pupils? It just seems a bit pointless - as if they have to be seen to be acting on their pledge, so they have come up with this. In the meantime, it will be increasingly obvious that it is unaffordable and they will be able to say that they tried but the Coalition government policies made it impossible.
Maybe the real question is why, after 13 years of a Labour government the key measure of child poverty ie FSM take-up, is relatively unchanged in Southwark.
Showing posts with label Election 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Election 2010. Show all posts
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
A terrible beauty ?
So the political landscape has changed in a matter of hours. Although one could say that an objective analysis of the general election result meant that this was the only likely option to emerge, it's still rather astonishing...and however exciting, carries risks for both parties. The taunt flung at LibDems was always that their policy agenda was fantasy, that a vote for them and and their policies was wasted because the reality was they would never have a chance to implement them - and now they have!
For an area like Southwark, the benefits could be substantial; a pupil premium for our schools will mean more teachers and smaller class sizes, raising the tax threshold to £10,000 will make a significant difference to the levels of deprivation endured by a section of our society often overlooked, (the working poor) and if the constitutional policies are as we think they are, well it looks like a good start.
BM can't pretend to like David Cameron or George Osborne but I do like the idea of their policies being tempered by Lib Dems such as Nick Clegg and Vince Cable. And in the end people go into politics to have an opportunity to govern and make a difference and they would not have been forgiven for failing to make a decision to govern.
Meanwhile, the cuts which have to be made, however tempered or softened by LibDems, will be done through local authorities up and down the country stuffed full of newly elected Labour councillors, backed by the Trades Unions. It would have happened anyway even with a Labour government but now the lines have been clearly drawn. Those Labour councils owe the unions their election so how are they going to implement the cuts to their budgets ? However it's done whether by losing public sector jobs or jacking up Council Tax or both, they will take every opportunity to blame the Tory/LibDem government for their own incompetence, dishonesty and failures of leadership.
We live in interesting times. Alls changed, changed utterly...
For an area like Southwark, the benefits could be substantial; a pupil premium for our schools will mean more teachers and smaller class sizes, raising the tax threshold to £10,000 will make a significant difference to the levels of deprivation endured by a section of our society often overlooked, (the working poor) and if the constitutional policies are as we think they are, well it looks like a good start.
BM can't pretend to like David Cameron or George Osborne but I do like the idea of their policies being tempered by Lib Dems such as Nick Clegg and Vince Cable. And in the end people go into politics to have an opportunity to govern and make a difference and they would not have been forgiven for failing to make a decision to govern.
Meanwhile, the cuts which have to be made, however tempered or softened by LibDems, will be done through local authorities up and down the country stuffed full of newly elected Labour councillors, backed by the Trades Unions. It would have happened anyway even with a Labour government but now the lines have been clearly drawn. Those Labour councils owe the unions their election so how are they going to implement the cuts to their budgets ? However it's done whether by losing public sector jobs or jacking up Council Tax or both, they will take every opportunity to blame the Tory/LibDem government for their own incompetence, dishonesty and failures of leadership.
We live in interesting times. Alls changed, changed utterly...
Friday, 7 May 2010
Dazed and confused
What does it all mean ? BM's not sure but then she's in good company. To some extent the debate over whether this represents a return to parliamentary rather than 'presidential' style elections, is academic. Real people, some of them friends, lost seats.
Of the Lib Dem losses, BM is particularly grieved for Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon), who is a decent man who has taken principled stands on unpopular causes - maybe that's what did for him in the end - unaccompanied children at Yarl's Wood detention centre do not have a vote. I wonder if the new Tory MP will care so much about their wellbeing.
On a brighter note, here in Bermondsey & Old Southwark, despite a vicious nasty campaign fought by Labour, targetting race and immigration issues, Simon emerged with his best ever result! Once again, Bermondsey defies stereotypes about its voter profile and shows that a good man who has also fought some unpopular causes, can win and win big.
The Council seat count starts later today...let's hope for a clearer outcome to that.
Of the Lib Dem losses, BM is particularly grieved for Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon), who is a decent man who has taken principled stands on unpopular causes - maybe that's what did for him in the end - unaccompanied children at Yarl's Wood detention centre do not have a vote. I wonder if the new Tory MP will care so much about their wellbeing.
On a brighter note, here in Bermondsey & Old Southwark, despite a vicious nasty campaign fought by Labour, targetting race and immigration issues, Simon emerged with his best ever result! Once again, Bermondsey defies stereotypes about its voter profile and shows that a good man who has also fought some unpopular causes, can win and win big.
The Council seat count starts later today...let's hope for a clearer outcome to that.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
GOTV
For the uninitiated, not a new TV station but the Get Out The Vote effort, which started at approximately 5am and will go on until 10pm. Bermondsey Mum has been involved in this in one way or another over 8 different election campaigns. Long ago, when she was a civilian enjoying normal recreational activities, she could not have imagined what a campaign involves, culminating in the GOTV. Civilian is a careful choice of word, because the effort is run with a military style efficiency (in that sometimes it is well resourced and others, not so much) and planned well in advance. For BM, the final push on Election day, GOTV is the most nerve-wracking of all.
Back in HQ as teller slips are analysed and volunteers deployed to 'knock up' recalcitrant voters (not what you think), everything tends to run smoothly until the after work surge between 7-10pm. At that point all of your assumptions about what is 'safe' or not disappear as frantic number-crunching goes on and tactical decisions are taken about where to deploy the 'knock up'.
Still, the airwaves are mercifully clear of electioneering today and one way or another it will all be over this time tomorrow...at least for 6 months or so.
Back in HQ as teller slips are analysed and volunteers deployed to 'knock up' recalcitrant voters (not what you think), everything tends to run smoothly until the after work surge between 7-10pm. At that point all of your assumptions about what is 'safe' or not disappear as frantic number-crunching goes on and tactical decisions are taken about where to deploy the 'knock up'.
Still, the airwaves are mercifully clear of electioneering today and one way or another it will all be over this time tomorrow...at least for 6 months or so.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Bermondsey Mum's first ever demo!
Yesterday's post about DC at the City of London Academy, was only half the story, readers. Spotting the camera crew at COLA alerted BM to his imminent arrival and led to a blog-led flash mob event! It was the most hysterical fun Bermondsey Mum has had in a while, made even more surreal by the arrival of Boris on his bicycle. And all captured by Sky News and Bill Neely for ITN. Fortunately BM is not recognisable in any of the pictures, obscured as she was by large Liberal Democrat boards.
The Tory advance guy seemed bemused and ever so slightly irritated by our appearance. Bermondsey Mum suspects this was his first and possibly only visit to this part of SE1; he seemed much more an SW1 type, close cropped haircut, very nice suit and brogues which had been buffed to a military-quality shine. Best quip of the event goes to Gary Glover "We got posh cars too you know!" as our Mercedes minibuses arrived with re-inforcements!
The Tory advance guy seemed bemused and ever so slightly irritated by our appearance. Bermondsey Mum suspects this was his first and possibly only visit to this part of SE1; he seemed much more an SW1 type, close cropped haircut, very nice suit and brogues which had been buffed to a military-quality shine. Best quip of the event goes to Gary Glover "We got posh cars too you know!" as our Mercedes minibuses arrived with re-inforcements!
Where is Gideon Oliver (George) Osborne ?
Bermondsey Mum has noted the lack of coverage of the man who would be Chancellor in 3 days time and she is not alone. The Mole suggests that if is he is indeed locked in a cupboard with no media access in Tory Central Office, it may be something to do with the fact that he is not the most popular choice for Chancellor with either the great unwashed public or indeed, the people he has courted so assiduously, the City men. No, it seems that the City men want Ken Clarke. More interestingly, hardly any of the mainstream media (MSM) has enquired about Mr Osborne's whereabouts: no quotes on the Greek meltdown, the fragility of the Euro - nada. It's as if they are maintaining a radio silence in enemy territory - " if we don't mention GO, then perhaps people will not notice that he is singularly and spectacularly unprepared to deal with the greatest financial crisis facing the country since at least the 1930's".
Where's George Osborne ? Someone should start a Twitter meme....
Where's George Osborne ? Someone should start a Twitter meme....
Monday, 3 May 2010
Tory homework
Watching Sky News earlier, Bermondsey Mum was surprised to hear David Cameron launch his Schools Olympics idea with Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Culture, Media & Sport spokesperson at the City of London Academy, right here in Bermondsey! Surprised because far from being the 'new' idea which Jeremy described, Southwark Council has been running its own schools olympics which is called the Southwark Community Games, very successfully for several years now. And to think that David was a PR man too; tsk tsk, someone didn't do their homework...I'd have words with your advance people, Dave...
All that effort...
David Cameron's Tories are currently polling 2-3 points (33-35%) more than Michael Howard's Tories (33%)...
Charlie's Brooker's assessment of David Cameron
"I see the sheen, the electronic calm, those tiny, expressionless eyes . . . I glimpse the outlines of the cloaking device and I instinctively recoil, like a baby tasting mould. Don't get me wrong. I don't see a power-crazed despot either. I almost wish I did. Instead, I see an avatar. A simulated man with a simulated face. A humanoid. A replicant. An Auton. A construct. A Carlton PR man who's arrived to run the country, and currently stands before us, blinking patiently, blank yet alert, quietly awaiting commencement of phase two. At which point, presumably, his real face may finally become visible."
Creepy and scary...
Creepy and scary...
Friday, 30 April 2010
The Liberal moment has come
The Guardian declares for the Liberal Democrats:-
"Citizens have votes. Newspapers do not. However, if the Guardian had a vote in the 2010 general election it would be cast enthusiastically for the Liberal Democrats. It would be cast in the knowledge that not all the consequences are predictable, and that some in particular should be avoided. The vote would be cast with some important reservations and frustrations. Yet it would be cast for one great reason of principle above all.
After the campaign that the Liberal Democrats have waged over this past month, for which considerable personal credit goes to Nick Clegg, the election presents the British people with a huge opportunity: the reform of the electoral system itself. Though Labour has enjoyed a deathbed conversion to aspects of the cause of reform, it is the Liberal Democrats who have most consistently argued that cause in the round and who, after the exhaustion of the old politics, reflect and lead an overwhelming national mood for real change"
Read the complete editorial here.
"Citizens have votes. Newspapers do not. However, if the Guardian had a vote in the 2010 general election it would be cast enthusiastically for the Liberal Democrats. It would be cast in the knowledge that not all the consequences are predictable, and that some in particular should be avoided. The vote would be cast with some important reservations and frustrations. Yet it would be cast for one great reason of principle above all.
After the campaign that the Liberal Democrats have waged over this past month, for which considerable personal credit goes to Nick Clegg, the election presents the British people with a huge opportunity: the reform of the electoral system itself. Though Labour has enjoyed a deathbed conversion to aspects of the cause of reform, it is the Liberal Democrats who have most consistently argued that cause in the round and who, after the exhaustion of the old politics, reflect and lead an overwhelming national mood for real change"
Read the complete editorial here.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
The Political Wife
As Bermondsey Mum has previously disclosed, she has this much in common with Sarah Brown, if little else. Having seen her on BBC News 24 earlier, in the background of a shot where Gordon was desperately trying to rescue his political career, she looked abjectly miserable. I can't claim to know how she feels but she is in an unenviable position, whatever happens. The spin doctors will demand that she shadows Gordon every step of the way between now and polling day, ensuring that she is on-screen almost constantly, since the broadcast media are all hoping for another gaffe. While they wait for that, the print media will no doubt have fun sneering at Sarah B's outfits/shoes/hair... And all the while, if they lose (and assuming this becomes clear around midnight on polling day) she has 12 hours to clear out of No.10.
Meanwhile she has to endure and explain to the children if they see them, the accusations made against Gordon, the funny but hurtful cartoon caricatures of him in print and online and the contrast between the man she knows and loves and the one demonised as a politician. Same goes for Laura Bush, who has just published her memoirs and possibly also Norma Major. Interestingly, all of these women are/were probably more 'popular' than their spouses but Bermondsey Mum has not got time to get into that. There's a pile of anti-Bermondsey Dad election leaflets to shred...
Meanwhile she has to endure and explain to the children if they see them, the accusations made against Gordon, the funny but hurtful cartoon caricatures of him in print and online and the contrast between the man she knows and loves and the one demonised as a politician. Same goes for Laura Bush, who has just published her memoirs and possibly also Norma Major. Interestingly, all of these women are/were probably more 'popular' than their spouses but Bermondsey Mum has not got time to get into that. There's a pile of anti-Bermondsey Dad election leaflets to shred...
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Geek the vote
Times are tough for geeks...so says the website http://www.geekthevote.org.uk/ Not a subject Bermondsey Mum can claim to know anything about, but having met Ed (the founder-geek) last night, I am happy to spread the word. So, geeks everywhere unite!
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Newspapers and what they tell us
Johann Hari has a very good piece in the Independent, which is well worth reading all the way through. For me, this was the best bit:-
The British media is overwhelmingly owned by right-wing billionaires who order their newspapers to build up the politicians who serve their interests, and marginalise or rubbish the politicians who serve the public interest. David Yelland, the former editor of The Sun, bravely confessed this week that as soon as he took his post, he was told the Lib Dems had to be "the invisible party, purposely edged off the paper's pages and ignored". Only a tiny spectrum of opinion was permitted. Everyone to the left of Tony Blair (not hard) had to be rubbished – even when their policies spoke for a majority of British people.
Both TV debates, then, have been a very rare moment in which a slightly more liberal-left voice could speak to the public without the distorting frame of pre-emptive abuse and smears. When, for example, have you ever heard the EU defended as plainly and clearly? The window of permissible opinion was opened a little – and people responded with a wave of enthusiasm. It could've been opened wider still – to the Greens, say – and found a receptive audience too.
It's amazing what a little fair play can do and I say this with my fingers crossed because of course the only poll that matters is on May 6th. Imagine what might happen if government broadly reflected the actual views of the electorate ? That can only happen if the voting system changes and that will only happen if the Lib Dems manage to break the duopoly previously enjoyed by Labour and the Conservatives.
Full disclosure: Bermondsey Mum, although not a member of any political party, is married to a Lib Dem. Just for fun I tried this online questionnaire in the Telegraph, which takes about 3 minutes to do, and then tells you which party most closely mirrors your views/priorities. Guess which one Bermondsey Mum topped ?
The British media is overwhelmingly owned by right-wing billionaires who order their newspapers to build up the politicians who serve their interests, and marginalise or rubbish the politicians who serve the public interest. David Yelland, the former editor of The Sun, bravely confessed this week that as soon as he took his post, he was told the Lib Dems had to be "the invisible party, purposely edged off the paper's pages and ignored". Only a tiny spectrum of opinion was permitted. Everyone to the left of Tony Blair (not hard) had to be rubbished – even when their policies spoke for a majority of British people.
Both TV debates, then, have been a very rare moment in which a slightly more liberal-left voice could speak to the public without the distorting frame of pre-emptive abuse and smears. When, for example, have you ever heard the EU defended as plainly and clearly? The window of permissible opinion was opened a little – and people responded with a wave of enthusiasm. It could've been opened wider still – to the Greens, say – and found a receptive audience too.
It's amazing what a little fair play can do and I say this with my fingers crossed because of course the only poll that matters is on May 6th. Imagine what might happen if government broadly reflected the actual views of the electorate ? That can only happen if the voting system changes and that will only happen if the Lib Dems manage to break the duopoly previously enjoyed by Labour and the Conservatives.
Full disclosure: Bermondsey Mum, although not a member of any political party, is married to a Lib Dem. Just for fun I tried this online questionnaire in the Telegraph, which takes about 3 minutes to do, and then tells you which party most closely mirrors your views/priorities. Guess which one Bermondsey Mum topped ?
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