I could potentially vote for a centreist Labour government.
Not nationalisation.
Not unrealistic give aways of swathes of public money and mounting national debt.
I left teaching in 2016, the Gove years and the resulring rapid escalation of workload just rendered it impossible for me to meet the increasingly exacting requirements to meet the criteria to be a Good/ Outstanding teacher and to be an adequate mother. Motherhood won. Many of the ills that drove me out of teaching had their roots in the New Labour years, but were then greatly exacerbated by Gove's policies.
New Labour was a mixed blessing. Early interventions in Sure Start were positive. I went into teaching in the early 00s when teachers were being encouraged and improvements such as PPA being introduced to manage workload. The increasing dominance of teaching to league tables/ SATs/ GCSE targets had its roots then and the introduction of academisation and schools in challenging circumstances constantly being in fear for their survival.
It's not a simple case of throwing money to solve problems. What is unnecessarily beaurocratic? What genuinely adds value? The data and back-covering that finished me off was not about money. It was about a culture of political fear. Although funding for TAs to support my SN son and sufficient glue sticks wouldn't go amiss.
I'm sure my story is relatable in other areas across the public sector.
I am politically open to any broadly middle-ground party. I look at each election on its own merits. Yesterday I held my nose and voted with a semi-spoil message to a minority party, mainly because in my safe seat it mattered not a jot.
I want an efficient, effective country.
Where the vulnerable are supported and enabled to thrive.
Where professionals are trusted and valued, not driven to the ground.
Where there is value in success.
Where there is respect.
If Labour can produce a realistic vision, I'll listen.