Brown admits comprehensives failed urban Britain
James Forsyth 12:26pm
Gordon Brown’s desire to have it both ways is quite incredible. In his conference speech Brown took a personal and cheap shot at David Cameron, accusing him of using his children as props. But now he is perfectly happy to use his children as the backdrop for a soft-focus interview with Alison Pearson of the Mail and to talk on the record about their health issues.
But once you have got over this and the irony of Brown, who keeps stressing that he is a serious man working flat out to try and solve this crisis, taking time out to indulge in sofa politics you’ll find there is a revealing and important quote in the piece. The Prime Minister is prepared to concede to Pearson that “comprehensives did not work in the cities”.
Now, I’ve done a quick cuts search and this seems to be stronger and more direct than what Brown has said previously about the move to comprehensives. The admission does, though, beg the question of why Brown moved Lord Adnois—who was doing so much to create a better system—from his job at education in the reshuffle.
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Comments
David C
October 11th, 2008 1:07pmAdmit a mistake for one thing to boost your reputation for honesty (Alright. Stop screaming "What reputation?!") and use this to deny responsibility for the massive **** ups you are making elsewhere.
Typical Campbell.
Mack
October 11th, 2008 1:39pmHe moved Adonis to appease his union paymasters. As we all know if he thinks it will help save his skin, he'll do it.
Keith
October 11th, 2008 1:47pmI'm sure you'll find that he didn't actually say that!...or he was misquoted or misunderstood. There'll surely be an excuse.
molesworth 1
October 11th, 2008 2:28pmHe moved Adonis to retake control of education for (no)Balls, whose state assisted residences are for the time being, sanctioned. Balls needs ratcheting up the greasy-pole if he is to 'succeed', so after Education then Foreign Secretary? Or Home Sec., as the politics dictate.
Mind you, I was wrong about Tony McNulty becoming Chief Whip...
James
October 11th, 2008 3:54pmLord Adonis is a complete who has flushed millions on useless crime academies.
I somehow suspect that the person who wrote this piece would move heaven and earth to make sure their own kids didn't end up in a cesspit academy.
Tiberius
October 11th, 2008 4:28pmAs Hazel Blears would say, "What Gordon was trying to say..."
Kit
October 11th, 2008 6:46pmCity Academies were copied from the States. They failed there and they are failing here.
Nicholas
October 11th, 2008 9:52pmThe fact that comprehensives did not work in the cities is perhaps less important than the fact that they replaced grammar schools. The act of destruction preceded and determined the consequential failure. It is an unfortunate truism in 20th and 21st Century socialist politics that their "progressive" and "change" policies replace equally the good and the not so good with the unsuccessful.
When it comes to Labour the cure is usually worse than the symptoms, brings a host of unintended consequences and the patient often dies as a result.
If Herr Braun and his regime ramped up their dithering to do absolutely nothing the country would actually benefit. When the meddlers were taking their summer holiday the sky did not fall in - in fact the shit hit the fan only when they became "productive" again. I think this may be an argument for very teeny tiny government with a small 'g' and no Gordons.
JohnAnt
October 11th, 2008 10:34pmCertainly didn't work for his own alma mater, did it! Kirkcaldy, back then a proud grammar school good enough to send many to university when Brown was there, now a struggling and failing comp.
mac
October 12th, 2008 11:26pmLook, everyone, it's simple; comprehensives are the answer to whatever the question, whatever the circumstances, and indeed, whatever the whatever. It's a message that Melissa Benn regurgitates repeatedly in The Grauniad/Observer, most recently today. And reflect on this conclusion rendered, one can readily imagine with true Bennite po-faced, irony-free 'conviction': "In this week of all weeks, maybe New Labour will finally rediscover a belief in the benign powers of the state, particularly in the running of our precious public services". Frightening, innit?
Ray
October 13th, 2008 10:10amThe man is completely impervious to irony - especially his own!
"British jobs for British workers"... "Ending the Age of Irresponsibility"...