'Incoherent' teacher plans
A recent Ofsted report talks about local authorities failing to raise school standards – but noted the long-standing difficulties in recruiting teachers.
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News
Local government pay talks under way
The 2016 local government pay negotiations are under way. Unite, GMB and Unison gird their loins for a battle, but the claim is weighted towards the “Living Wage”.
Welcome to the board: Labour, Inc
Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor, has been appointed to the board of directors at Morgan Stanley, the US-based financial services firm, while Gordon Brown is to join a global investment firm.
Co-op Bank close Cuba solidarity account
The Co-op Bank has closed the accounts of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. The action follows on the heels of the closure of 20 accounts held by British pro-Palestine groups.
Industry: output falls
Manufacturing output fell by 0.4 per cent in October. This continues the consistent decline of the manufacturing sector throughout 2015.
Kellingley closes
13 December 2015
The last of Britain’s deep coal mines closed on 19 December. It sounds the death knell not only for coal mining but electricity generation from coal, hastened by government decsions posing as a commitment to deal with climate change.
The war must be stopped
3 December 2015
David Cameron has got his way, and the RAF is bombing Syria. We will all live to regret the despicable vote in parliament last night which saw the bombing authorised.
Student nurses and midwives in bursary protest
2 December 2015
War abroad, war at home. As parliament was debating the bombing of Syria, less than 100 yards up Whitehall student nurses and midwives were standing outside the Department of Health in a loud and lively protest against plans to scrap their bursaries.
Rail unions unite over driver-only trains
30 November 2015
In a significant move, rail unions ASLEF and RMT have agreed a joint statement opposing the operation of trains without a guard – a direct response to plans to operate new inter-city trains with drivers only.
Doctors show the way
27 November 2015
Junior doctors have forced health secretary Jeremy Hunt to go to Acas without precondition, which he said could not happen. The threat of industrial action starting on 1 December still stands, although withdrawal of labour is very difficult for junior doctors.
Sheffield rally urges action to save steel
23 November 2015
Steel workers from across Britain demonstrated in the “steel city” of Sheffield on Saturday, demanding urgent government action to save the industry.
Winter kills: fuel poverty on the rise
23 November 2015
On Wednesday 25 November, figures will be announced for the number of additional winter deaths of older people due to cold-related illnesses – and black balloons will be released to indicate the scale of fuel poverty in Britain.
Hunt misses every target
15 November 2015
The NHS in England continues to miss many key targets, such as those for emergency responses and cancer care. A&E departments face a “perfect storm” this winter.
OECD indicators indict Britain's health spending
9 November 2015
The latest indictment of Britain’s spending on health has come from a formidable source – the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the club of leading capitalist countries.
Students fight against fees and debt
5 November 2015
Students from 60 university campuses across Britain converged on the Department of Business Innovation and Skills on Wednesday 4 November to call for an end to tuition fees and debt.
The US stays on
The US government now intends to keep US troops in Afghanistan beyond President Obama’s departure from office in January 2017, breaking his promise to end the war on his watch.
Research: warning of huge cuts
Science is Vital, a grassroots organisation composed of scientists and supporters of science and research in Britain, is warning of “grave concerns” that the government is planning huge cuts to the science budget.
US confronts China
The US government intends to send warships into the South China Sea through a 12-nautical mile zone around the disputed Spratly islands
Wardens break pay barrier
Traffic wardens working for outsourcing company NSL in Camden, north London, have voted to accept a new pay agreement. The settlement, which breaks through the ceiling of the “London living wage”, also avoids the need for another two weeks of planned strike action.
Academy conversion by force
Each successive Secretary of State for Education tightens the noose of state control around schools, and the current one, Nicky Morgan, is no exception. The Schools and Adoption Bill currently making its way through parliament is a short bill with a long arm.
Separatists join attack on BBC
The SNP is weighing in behind those who want to see an end to the BBC as we know it. Scottish Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has just outlined her plans for a “federal BBC with at least a Board for each nation” with a budget controlled in Scotland.
Adult education campaign launched
The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) is calling for support for its campaign to save adult education. The area is under increased threat in the run-up to the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
Rate threat
In Washington the US Federal Reserve is preparing to raise interest rates, even though this would destabilise already fragile economies across the world.
Schools: the long arm of the state
24 October 2015
The Schools and Adoption Bill currently making its way through parliament aims to speed up the rate of “conversion” to academy status – this time by force.
Junior doctors move to ballot
23 October 2015
After successful demonstrations on 17 October in London, Nottingham and Belfast against the new junior doctors’ contract, the BMA has announced that ballot papers will go out to its members in early November.
Camden wardens break through 'living wage' barrier
20 October 2015
Traffic wardens working for outsourcing company NSL in Camden, north London, have agreed a settlement which breaks through the ceiling of the “London living wage” and avoids the need for further strike action.
Volkswagen scandal exposes deadly consequences of loss of sovereignty
20 October 2015
The Volkswagen diesel emissions crisis is the worst ever to hit the motor industry. But what has Britain been doing? Nothing…
English National Opera on the brink as cuts loom
20 October 2015
Unions in London are waiting to hear whether the English National Opera grant has been saved from redistribution: in short, whether proper national funding will continue.
Welsh museum staff walk out
20 October 2015
Workers at the National Museum (Amgueddfa Cymru) of Wales, which is spread across a number of sites, are on strike today in the latest of a series of actions against plans to scrap anti-social hours payments for weekend working.
TTIP - the mask slips
18 October 2015
“I do not take my mandate from the European people,” said EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström in an interview when challenged about the extent of opposition to the transatlantic trade treaty.