John McDonnell’s recent address to the TUC demonstrates Labour’s commitment to challenging neo-liberal ideas about the labour market. https://www.tuc.org.uk/speeches/shadow-chancellor-john-mcdonnells-speech-tuc-congress-2018 For the last three decades both conservative and social democratic governments across the globe have deregulated labour markets, arguing that increasing the ‘flexibility’ of workers will make them more productive, increase economic growth and bring greater […]
With few alternatives available after A-levels, young people will head off to university in huge numbers this month. From 2015, government lifted the cap on the number of students each institution can admit, with the knock-on effect being that many Russell universities are now accepting students previously aiming for ‘middle’ institutions – if necessary, by […]
Another set of public examination results. This time round, after years of bleating about falling standards, media attention has focussed on the stress caused to young people – this year’s cohort being the first to endure the new subject requirements. Many on the Left correctly argue that education has become ‘commodified’. But anyone trying to […]
While opposition to Tory cuts continues, Labour has huge support for its commitment to restoring school budgets. At the same time however, the Party leadership also promises to ‘balance the books’ and maintain ‘fiscal credibility’. By this it means that over the course of a five-year Parliament, current (day to day) expenditure will be largely […]
A new issue of Forum has just been published. It contains a series of articles about Labour’s plans for a National Education Service. It goes without saying that in general Labour’s policy should be welcomed, but some of its post-16 proposals are more problematic. In one of the contributions, Patrick Ainley and myself explain why […]
