Monthly Archives: July 2009

Tory education policy suddenly less appealing, by Conor Ryan

30 July 2009 | Conor Ryan

One of the more impressive aspects of Michael Gove, the shadow schools secretary whom I interviewed for this week’s magazine, is his grasp of detail and willingness to talk to people within the sector about policy rather more fully than his predecessors. Read more

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Pride and prejudice, by Vivienne Russell

30 July 2009 | Vivienne Russell

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a shadow schools secretary hungry for government must be in want of parental votes. Read more...

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On a West Wing and a prayer, by Peter Riddell

30 July 2009 | Peter Riddell

The Tories have been consulting on how to avoid the over–centralisation of the Blair/Brown years. But how do they keep government strong yet slim? Read more...

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Joining the round table, by Simon Parker

30 July 2009 | Simon Parker

The benefits of Sir Gus’s quest for joined-up government are clear and other countries have shown it can be achieved Read more...

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Plugging the gap, by Susie Owen

30 July 2009 | Susie Owen

The Office of Government Commerce has launched best practice guides to help public bodies keep their energy costs down Read more...

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Equalities row is no laughing matter, by Tony Travers

29 July 2009 | Tony Travers

The day-to-day bad news from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission is serious stuff for the so-called ‘funny season’.  High-level resignations and briefings have kept this heavyweight institution in the news continuously for several weeks. Read more

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University funding subject to conditions, by Stephen Court

29 July 2009 | Stephen Court

Universities’ response to the government’s announcement of an extra 10,000 places in higher education for 2009/10 has been somewhat muted. Read more...

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Taking social work pay to task, by Heather Wakefield

29 July 2009 | Heather Wakefield

Social workers are part of a local government workforce dogged by poor pay, high vacancy levels and lack of investment in training. Will the social work task force change anything? Read more...

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Save our local everything! By Melissa Benn

23 July 2009 | Melissa Benn

If a tired Labour government, 12 years in, struggles to develop a credible vision to sell to the voters, the Conservatives seem to have hit on a rich and popular idea that I am sure we will hear more of as the election edges near, an idea I shall crudely summarise as ‘Save our local everything!’ Read more...

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Judgement day, by Mike Thatcher

23 July 2009 | Mike Thatcher

Huge cuts to education, health and welfare budgets, higher class sizes, teachers losing their jobs, local government squeezed and public servants forced to take unpaid leave. Read more

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