Current Affairs The Labour Party

[Charlie Sweet]

You missed how they're also threatening to field a different candidate in Harriet Harman's seat if she runs for speaker, solely because she's not Momentum.

They'd literally rather have a Tory as speaker than a very well respected centre-left Labour candidate.

I honestly think momentum would prefer a Tory/Brexit Party combo than a left of centre led Labour party.

By "they're" you mean "some of Harman's CLP", and the issue is that they'd rather have their own MP speak for them than someone who is constitutionally required to be impartial.

Having someone like Harman as Speaker is one of the most important objectives for any smart Remain supporting individual

£9.00 for prescription charges, had no idea it was so much these days... Good move to abolish charges certainly encourage people to take prescribed preventative medications.

Labour pledges to stop NHS prescription charges

Labour is to announce a pledge to abolish prescription charges in England at its party conference next week.

www.bbc.co.uk

Not sure. The NHS already over prescribes in my opinion and I thought most people either vulnerable or on low incomes receive them free anyway?

Abolishing private schools a real vote winner lol

It's stupid. Small changes to recieve more income for state coffers and increase scholarships is the way forward. Not sure abolishing them achieves anything other than satisfying petty jealousy.

 

[zzr45]

Sorry mate, you got me at scanning Twitter for precise details... X

I’m not saying precise details, but reading some feed from a journalist it’s points people have brought up.

There are some valid points though - there’s a private school not far from me which is a lovely school with plenty of land, but is 5 miles from the nearest two towns both of which having existing high schools (Kids tend to come from the North Cheshire belt to it, about 30 min drive) If it’s shut, there seemingly is nothing to do with it as it would serve neither town so it’s resources couldn’t particularly be used. There’s no guarantee that the perceived ‘good ’ private school teachers would end up back in the state system either. Even now the drain from ‘expat’ schools is taking the best teachers out the system.

 

[LEONARD]

Jon Lansman details Momentum's line on the abolition of prescription charges.

 

[abelard]

I honestly think momentum would prefer a Tory/Brexit Party combo than a left of centre led Labour party.

Think that's the Lib Dems, actually ; )

 

[dannyboy]

It’s the good old Labour ‘punish those doing alright’ method as per usual.

And scanning through Twitter - it’ll cost an extra 3bn to accommodate private school kids. Loss of overseas fees - some small villages essentially being bankrupted, cost of actually absorbing the private schools into the state sector.

Labour.

I´m the biggest hypocrite going because I teach in a private school but they really do nothing for social mobility. It is buying your child´s future. It would be great if the public sector could compete but that´s never going to happen.

 

[roydo]

It's stupid. Small changes to recieve more income for state coffers and increase scholarships is the way forward. Not sure abolishing them achieves anything other than satisfying petty jealousy.

Yep. Never get the envy dressed up as equality myself. If folk are rich enough to choose where their kids go to school, fine. My idea has long been to make the state system so good that it would be a waste of money to do so.

And from a different angle, by the same reasoning, they should abolish 1st Class travel and 5 star hotels.

 

[roydo]

It would be great if the public sector could compete but that´s never going to happen.

Why not? My local comprehensive is utterly fantastic. Regularly prepares students for Red Brick universities, inc Oxbridge.

 

[tsubaki]

It’s the good old Labour ‘punish those doing alright’ method as per usual.

And scanning through Twitter - it’ll cost an extra 3bn to accommodate private school kids. Loss of overseas fees - some small villages essentially being bankrupted, cost of actually absorbing the private schools into the state sector.

Labour.

Ah yes, the cries that it would cost extra money to accomodate private school kids in the state system. Labour will waste money! People in villages near Eton might starve in their unheated cottages!

Meanwhile the Tories have wasted more than four billion on free schools, around a quarter of which is in legal fees.

 

[tsubaki]

Why not? My local comprehensive is utterly fantastic. Regularly prepares students for Red Brick universities, inc Oxbridge.

They absolutely should all be like that - though if they were, people might start to question why it is they are paying £45000 a year in some cases to send their kid to a private school that is no better.

 

[neil999]

Ah yes, the cries that it would cost extra money to accomodate private school kids in the state system. Labour will waste money! People in villages near Eton might starve in their unheated cottages!

Meanwhile the Tories have wasted more than four billion on free schools, around a quarter of which is in legal fees.

The policy will massively deter centrist /floating voters

 

[roydo]

Ah yes, the cries that it would cost extra money to accomodate private school kids in the state system. Labour will waste money! People in villages near Eton might starve in their unheated cottages!

Meanwhile the Tories have wasted more than four billion on free schools, around a quarter of which is in legal fees.

But if folk would rather pay for an education they would prefer for their kids, be it by faith, or lifestyle, or a specialist subject matter or to keep up with the neighbours, what is actually wrong with that?

I personally, other than faith, think its daft. But I would rather make the state schools brilliant, rather than stop folk making their own decisions.

 

[roydo]

They absolutely should all be like that - though if they were, people might start to question why it is they are paying £45000 a year in some cases to send their kid to a private school that is no better.

I know quite a few folk who spent £0000's on their kids schooling, to no obvious social or career advantage. I am pretty sure many (parents) do it for their own ego, rather than the good of their kids.

 

[tsubaki]

The policy will massively deter centrist /floating voters

We will certainly be told it will by the many, many leading journalists who went to (and send their kids to) private schools - but given that the vast majority of society is demonstrably nowhere near being able to afford the either fifteen or thirty grand a year it costs on average to send their kid to one of these schools, I rather think there will be very little actual impact.

 

[orchard]

I’m not saying precise details, but reading some feed from a journalist it’s points people have brought up.

There are some valid points though - there’s a private school not far from me which is a lovely school with plenty of land, but is 5 miles from the nearest two towns both of which having existing high schools (Kids tend to come from the North Cheshire belt to it, about 30 min drive) If it’s shut, there seemingly is nothing to do with it as it would serve neither town so it’s resources couldn’t particularly be used. There’s no guarantee that the perceived ‘good ’ private school teachers would end up back in the state system either. Even now the drain from ‘expat’ schools is taking the best teachers out the system.

I don't know the details precisely mate, so can't really comment, although i agree with @roydo ,in bringing up standards and attracting good pupils would be the way to go, but abolishing academies/freeschools should be a no-brainer for Labour.

 

[neil999]

We will certainly be told it will by the many, many leading journalists who went to (and send their kids to) private schools - but given that the vast majority of society is demonstrably nowhere near being able to afford the either fifteen or thirty grand a year it costs on average to send their kid to one of these schools, I rather think there will be very little actual impact.

I know a couple of people who send their kids to moderately priced private schools, they earn a moderate wage but through saving and a small inheritance they have been able to do it

I don't agree with private schools, but for most voters who aren't interested in politics this is gonna sound like Labour are taking away choice

It's an absolutely disastrous policy and I really fear for a tory majority... Again