The Eastern members of the European Union are holding a mini-summit prior to all EU Heads of States and Governments convening an emergency summit on 1st March 2009 to discuss protectionism, writes Kyial Arabaeva. Mr. Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, Poland’s Europe Minister, told Poland’s PAP news agency: ‘We want to send a clear message that we support… [Read More]
In the latest issue of Prospect Phillip Blond makes a case for localism, but he seems to think his proposals require a rejection of liberalism, whereas in fact they are simply the natural outgrowth of liberal ideas. In particular he is grossly mistaken about some of the characteristics he attributes to liberalism. His article has provoked considerable criticism, including my defence of… [Read More]
Today the ‘biggest review in forty years’ of the primary curriculum, the Cambridge Primary Review, published its two-part special report today under the remit ‘The condition and future of primary education in England’. As ‘[i]n our [the Primary Review’s] evidence, the curriculum attracted more comment than any other issue,’ the Review findings, which are based… [Read More]
One of the most pervasive beliefs in government is that quality in the NHS is a function of individuals who need buttons pressed and levers pulled by targets to deliver optimal performance. This is misguided. The most intractable problems in health care—the lack of communication, leadership, and teamwork; the lack of integration; and the lack… [Read More]
The exclusion of the Dutch MP, Geert Wilders, from the UK has provoked a number of thought-provoking pieces, particularly in the Economist and the FT. His ideas, I hasten to add, attract absolutely zero sympathy from me – his views are extremist themselves and guilty, in particular, of distorting debate by portraying the most reactionary… [Read More]
Last week, Merseyside’s Wirral Council announced the planned closure of almost a half of its 24 public libraries. Many other local authorities are soon likely to follow suit as they seek to reduce public spending in wake of the country’s current economic down-turn.
Today, the HSJ reports on the departure of two chief executives recently deposed of their positions at two of London’s biggest trusts – Barts and the London, and West Middlesex University. Here are some of the quotes from its sources:
The recently appointed head of a primary school in Sheffield has just tendered her resignation after unsuccessfully seeking to end the separate weekly assemblies for its thirty odd Muslim pupils she found on arrival being organised there. She sought to end them in the belief they were divisive. Instead, her attempt to do so raised… [Read More]
If last weeks’ British wildcat strikes were redolent of protectionism, comments evoking similar feelings made by the French President have proved inflammatory to Prague, writes Lara Natale. Czech Prime Minister/incumbent EU President Mirek Topolánek has suggested that they may even end up contributing to the Czech Republic’s existing disinclination to ratify the Lisbon Treaty.
As has been argued on this blog and in numerous other places, endless restructuring in the NHS with little if any scientific or other rationale has caused immeasurable harm and come at huge cost. And so we go again. The decision to disband the Healthcare Commission and Commission for Social Care Inspection and create a… [Read More]