Oh no, not the LibDems again. Yes, the crisis in the yellow party rumbles on and on. Though, to be accurate, this is nothing new – it’s been on slow burn since they spectacularly and wretchedly betrayed their tuition fees pledge. Every vicious turn since, be it the bedroom tax, defending work capability assessments, cheering the backdoor privatisation of the NHS, or ignoring the billions wasted by IBS on botched social security reforms. The litany of regressive, vindictive policies goes on and on. And quite rightly the LibDems have paid a heavy price in blood and treasure. You cannot approach the electorate as touchy-feely muesli-eating lefties and then back the most sickening attacks on vulnerable people seen in recent history. So here is the world’s smallest violin for Clegg’s cravenly opportunist gang. Continue reading
Tagged with Nick Clegg
The coming Lib Dem – Tory war
Believe it or not, there is one time of the year the political commentariat are more insufferable than the nonsense of the silly season. And that’s when it’s Liberal Democrat conference. And it is painful, I mean, really painful. Let’s look at the exhibits.
Underneath the demand-destroying cuts and general laissez-faire attitude to economics, Vince Cable has been hinting that he’s a bit of a lefty (again). There are “red lines” he tells us. Matters of principle that would have him up sticks from the cabinet should the government do especially appalling things. I wonder what they are. Continue reading
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Lobbying scandal? Better bring up the stale old anti-union vomit
If Britain’s political elite is despised for one thing as much as its corruption, from MPs’ expenses to the revolving door with business to its once more-exposed flogging of parliamentary influence for cash, it is its cynicism.
The Cameron-Clegg response to the latest lobbying scandal shows why. Confronted with evidence of MPs and peers influence-peddling at the behest of phoney lobbyists, they decided to act – against trade unions. Continue reading
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“State-school” Clegg, and when did selfishness become the norm?
“Nick Clegg to send son to state school”, muttered the headline in the “most viewed” column on the BBC News website. This was a not-unpleasant surprise for me – for when a public figure says they are “considering” going private, it usually means the decision has already been made.
It is of course a relief that at least one politician will not go for full-fronted individualism and shamelessly buy into the notion that privilege in our society is bought. Not that privilege needs to be bought for the son of the deputy prime minister, who was himself educated at top private school Westminster. Not that the London Oratory is not a school filled with people whose parents have bought them privilege in another way.
But despite it being treated as the norm for public figures, I’ve found myself asking over and over again: what sort of society do we live in where selfishness can be considered honourable behaviour?
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Listen: Conrad Landin debates private schools with ex-head of Harrow
Left Futures associate editor Conrad Landin appeared on the international radio station Voice of Russia on Wednesday to discuss private education.
The half-hour panel discussion also included Barnaby Lenon, the chair of the Independent Schools Council and former head of the exclusive Harrow School; Lib Dem blogger Mark Thompson; and educational researcher Alka Sehgal Cuthbert.
The discussion started with the subject of Nick Clegg’s recent announcement that he is considering sending his son to private school.