Thread 29 Sunak: Borders, Barges and Bacteria

[DuncinToffee]

Thanks pointythings

previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4853484-thread-28-sunak-lords-ladies-and-lame-ducks?page=1

Theatres now. The lovely Royal and Derngate in Northampton has RAAC

Oh no. That’s awful.

Academy's and MATS is a difficult one.

I've ALWAYS been against them because imo it's semi privatisation.

However, I'd a MAT or single academy trust have taken over an unsafe building from the LA I think there should be an agreement to share the cost. There should have been surveys of buildings by academies if they were taking on the buildings and accepting responsibility for them. They aren't afaik renting them from LA they just acquired the school and the buildings iyswim?

But whatever the finer points this is children education and the buildings need sorting. They can find the money when they want to for things. So they need to find it for this.

Perhaps Sunaks wife could get in with a company who assess RAAC or fixes buildings. I bet they'd find the money to pay the contractors then

Maybe it's a prerequisite that education secretaries know how to swear? They certainly seem to know how to set an example to the children whose education they are responsible for.

Theatres hadn't crossed my mind - who will fund any structural work?

Link below to chart from John Burn Murdoch on spending on capital investment.

"Potentially useful chart for understanding why bits of concrete are falling from the ceilings of British schools ft.com/content/b2154c…"

x.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1698661916304973911?s=46&t=Uw4lJNwxFZFnX0Xs3doHYg

If this is true

We just need to keep the lid on this for two years and then it’s someone else’s problem.’…

…Education Secretary Gillian Keegan remarked about RAAC, according to a whistleblower.

https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/keegan-keeps-the-lid-on-raac/

If that is an accurate quote she will have to resign.

I don’t think there’s any such thing as a resigning matter these days.

Given her behaviour today, I would not be in the slightest bit surprised if that was true.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/04/rishgpt-offers-a-word-salad-of-nonsense-on-school-buildings-crisis

John Crace absolutely nailing today’s events.

I doubt it's a lie. For once

When's Nadine's book due out?
I can't help but wonder what RAAC is designed to distract us from.

It's been delayed til at least November.

Some time in November - delayed due to 'legal issues'

Labour's reshuffle is being reported on quite positive in the media, makes a nice change.

And Sue Gray started her new job yesterday

Just in time for Nadine to hit the Christmas sales. Anyone got someone they dislike enough to buy it as a Christmas present for?

Government Message at this difficult time!

[SOUND ON!]

https://twitter.com/mattgreencomedy/status/1698737659512848431?s=20

This is NOT a spoof

It is like living in a badly written, unfunny episode of The Thick of It.

Oh my goodness- who is doing their Comms and do they work for Labour?

Here is the whole thread, powerpoints and all. The replies are

https://twitter.com/GillianKeegan/status/1698966531168743459?s=20

https://twitter.com/tamcohen/status/1698980822747889853?s=20

NEW
Just four schools have been completed under the government's School Rebuilding Programme started in 2021, DfE confirm to me.

Rather like the new hospitals, some are full rebuilds and some just a refresh.

Officials say that 50 a year is an average and “although it doesn’t sound like it, we are on track”.

I want to see the maths on that 50 is an average if they’ve managed 4 in 2 years.

https://news.sky.com/story/birmingham-city-council-effectively-declares-bankruptcy-after-being-hit-by-760m-bill-12955400

What’s going on here?