Polls, politics…and education
Civitas, 25 May 2007
The Conservatives u-turn on grammar schools has dominated this week’s education news. That there was rebellion in the Tory ranks was not surprising, grammar schools being a pinnacle of previous Conservative education policy. What was surprising, however, was the fact that the rebellion struck only now. Cameron, Willets and Osborne have all said that grammar schools will not feature on the new Conservative agenda. Yes, this week Willets attempted to dismantle the entire pro-grammar schools case, arguing that grammars did the opposite of what many conservatives believe: arrest, rather than increase social mobility. Nevertheless, it has been quite clear from the day that Cameron slid into his commanding saddle – or rather since his bid for the saddle – that the new leaders of the Tory party are not interested in Conservative ideology. Nor are they pursuing a new ideology: the Conservatives’ route to power is a haphazard one, directed by polls rather than principles. A political strategy that might be dubbed the pursuit of All Ways in contrast to New Labour’s Third Way. The problem, and the cause of in-fighting, is that the Conservative backbenchers are torn. On most days, party members want to get into power no matter what; yet on the days that the pillars of their core beliefs are whipped out from under their feet…well, their feet get suddenly chilled.
But, the Conservatives appear to be getting the desired results – popularity in unexpected places. According to today’s Times Education Supplement (TES), there is much snorting amongst the education community around the Conservatives’ newest fans: the National Union of Teachers (NUT). It does indeed feel quite odd to write that the most left leaning of the teaching unions is officially enamoured with Tory policy: “I have to say,” NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott, is reported in the TES as saying last month,’ the Conservative party is ahead of others in thinking about the future of the teaching professions”. Not every teaching union feels quite so warmly towards the Conservatives, however. Rival unions have even suggested that the NUT’s approval of Tory policy lies only in the fact that the union has fallen out of favour with this government. (The NUT was the only teaching union which refused to sign up to the workload agreement in 2003, for example).
And certainly, the NUT is ruffling Government feathers. John Bangs, the NUT’s head of education, has not only described the Conservatives’ plans as ‘exciting’ but thinks that Gordon Brown needs to ‘catch up’ with them. Rather than getting even, Brown is more likely to get mad at that suggestion. With Labour somewhat unlikely to make their own u-turn on grammar schools, in order to avoid collisions in the centre ground Brown will be under increasing pressure to differentiate Labour education policy from Conservative. And so the political game continues: occasionally with improvements in education a by-product, but all too often not.
Don’t underestimate the bullies in Comprehensive schools that call any child doing well, especially boys, abusive names. The peer pressure to do badly is very strong indeed – why do you think so many boys are failing in education? All you Politicians who have been to good schools open your eyes and ears and minds. Just because you and your children have had a good education so very many are failing because of this. Think of Grey’s “Elegy in a Churchyard”. My son has been failed badly because of you – he can’t go back – that is his future you have ruined!
Itis worth noting that the British National Party is stating clearly its adherence to the traditional Conservative position on grammar schools and education generally.It would not surprise me if a significant number of our 8 million non voters were to take solace from this singular stance and consider voting BNP.
Like so many long-term Conservatives, I am bewildered by the current hierarchy. Their stand on Grammar schools is at variance, not only with Tory principles but with (in my view)the indisputable fact that Grammar schools give an opportunity for children from a poor background to excel academically. They don’t have to be called Grammar schools but there has to be some mechanism that enables above average children, from whatever background, to escape from an environment that is dragged down by a minority that can’t and/or won’t be taught.
Thinking some more about the present Conservative hierarchy, one wonders if they are incapable of reading recent political history. Between the 1992 election and the more recent one in 2005, the Tories lost 5 million votes. During the same period Labour lost 2 million votes whilst the number of non-voters increased by 8 million. It’s clear that the lost Tory vote didn’t go to Labour (or not any significant number of them) but did go into the non-voter category. You would think that the current leaders would stop and think what it was that attracted the Tory vote in 1992 that isn’t being offered now. God, I hate politicians!!
“And so the political game continues…”
It does seem to be game,doesn’t it?
Since David Cameron appeared as a candidate for Leader of his party he has shown little attachment to any idea except that he should be Prime Minister.
Why aspire to be the ‘heir to Blair’? Why seek to take on work if someone else is already doing what you would do anyway.
The ambition to be Prime Minister because it gives the chance to do something for the benefit of the country is admirable.The ambition to be Prime Minister simply because one wants to be Prime Minister is not admirable.
David Cameron’s ditching of Conservative policies does not serve the Conservative Party at all well.
What is the point of being in office only to implement policies almost indistinguishable from the other lot?
Make the leadership respond to members’ wishes or get new leaders.