'Worst attack in history' on further education as government cuts bite deep
29 April 2015
If the government continues with its planned cuts to the adult skills budget, by 2020 adult education and training in England will have ceased to exist.
News/Views
A best-seller 167 years on
29 April 2015
Something interesting has occurred with the Bookseller list of current bestsellers. The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels is a new entry into the top ten list of general paperbacks.
Unity needed – to stop the EU pulling us apart
The parliamentary parties are for saving capitalism and enhancing its profits. And the EU is the instrument designed for this…
Zero for us, subsidies for them
As capitalism continues its drive to reduce workers to utter penury and, worse, compliance in that drive, the number of workers on zero hours contracts has soared from 200,000 in 2010 to 1.8 million in 2015.
Politics and survival
By the time you read this, the election will probably have morphed into a grand negotiation about a coalition. This they call politics.
US backs down over Cuba
Every year workers throughout the world celebrate May Day. Forty years ago, it coincided with the liberation of South Vietnam. This year, May Day comes hot on the heels of the US’s massive climbdown over Cuba – brilliant news.
Something for nothing
With Scottish universities among the highest users of zero-hours contracts, it is fitting that the University and College Union (UCU) should hold its annual congress this May in Glasgow.
And the next generation?
The number of young people choosing to study science is actually rising, despite the fees. From 2007/8 to 2013/14: Physics up 16 per cent, Engineering and Technology up 15 per cent, Biological Sciences up 30 per cent.
Science for the people: Away with superstitions
If all Britain had in the way of scientific research were just what is contained in London, we would be a global scientific power.
The DevoManc debacle
There’s been very little support for splitting up England whenever it has been put to the vote. Two years ago the people of Manchester voted not to have an elected mayor. They could not see why they needed yet another politician.
Three steps towards unwanted devolution
1. Plan announced to give Greater Manchester greater control of its finances and an elected mayor
2. Devolution agreement between Chancellor of the Exchequer and leaders of the GMCA
3. Memorandum of Understanding between NHS England and Greater Manchester
1975: Victory in Vietnam
Vietnam’s long struggle for independence culminated in victories for this small country against the military might of France and of America…