Thread 12 Starmer: From Prescott to Rayner, working class grit

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5203242-thread-11-starmer-will-that-phone-call-be-to-harris-or-to-trump-the-decidedly-superior-looking-cats-thread?page=40&reply=139989436

Thanks I've ordered it.

Or watch the thread.

Neither of those things would get the same attention tho' would they - and realise I'm also adding to the 'attention' now

Fair point @Efacsen

England’s special education system is failing, causing thousands of children to have their development put back by months or even years, according to a damning report by the local government ombudsman.
Amerdeep Somal, the local government and social care ombudsman, said her caseload was now dominated by complaints from families involving special educational needs (Sen) provision and schools, with more than 90% of complaints being upheld.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/nov/23/childrens-development-put-back-by-years-in-england-due-to-failure-of-special-educational-needs-system

Depressing and angering read. Tribunal dates are now listed for the end of next year. The system isnt working - and we've spent fecking years pissing about with twattery (Brexit and all related GDP ruining shenanigans).

Not apologising for the Guardian link. The Times are too busy up their own arse to cover this online.

It's absolutely tragic. I work in SEND and it's a real battle to get our children what they need.

I read a review of the Tim Shipman book Out and its put me in a foul mood. Actually I am fucking livid.

So many wasted years of government. Time soaked up by inadequate leaders and ministers, giant egos, internecine warfare and managing the wildly different versions of Brexit and reality. Pissing about keeping the various factions happy. Driverless government.

I understand why people are bored of the Tories Spunked a Red Hole In Our Finances argument - but bloody hell I am reminded that we went years without a decent administration and the result IS crumbling systems in every direction. Education, health and justice.

Memories are short. But the systemic collapse will stretch far into our futures.

The number of schools exempted from enquiry or investigation due to being academies or free schools is shocking. I mean, it’s all shocking, but it means Somal’s job is impossible to do.
Not directly mentioned in the article but also contributing to so many children being failed is the lack of applicants for support jobs should a school be willing and able to fund them. Fewer and fewer people want to be paid peanuts for supporting the most vulnerable children in the education system. It’s an appalling state of affairs all round.

Share token to the Shipman book review

a tale of Tory arrogance, narcissism and incompetence

https://www.thetimes.com/article/16a6e55d-984c-42a1-be90-1f434fd62fd0?shareToken=c53762982a20e407bba5039d214883c2

Yes, thats the one. It was a 'helpful' reminder of the last few years - and the fact that the self same people asked to be voted in again and many of them are still sitting on the opposition benches.

They are amazingly freed from the legacy of their own decision making because people find it boring to talk about or they pretend it was nothing to do with them. Or they pretend that they were the lone voice around the Cabinet table/they saw it all coming but were powerless etc).

They don't care as the I am alright Jacks, easier to froth over VAT and IHT and watch Labour trying to clear up the mess.

Not as much fun for her.

It's the total lack of accountability that gets me. And frankly Hoyle was useless.

I know I have shared articles by The Bear 🐻 before, he is now on Blue Sky where I have moved to, his article today is long but quite thought provoking on why we are hearing the howls of protest about paying IHT https://www.bearlypolitics.co.uk/p/fear-and-privilege-the-timeless-playbook?utm_campaign=post

@Evenstar Thanks for the link - absolutely nails it

Doesn’t it just? Thank you @Evenstar, I can see I’m going to enjoy those posts.

Yes thank you.

@Evenstar Excellent piece. Thank you.

I'm from a mining family and now as I look back ,
I feel dreadfully sad at all the hours my Grandad, his family and neighbours gave ,working in the dark whilst the sun was shining above them.
I hope so many people will read the article and see what they think.
I have had so many "gentle" disagreements with people lately who still believe the lies being spouted.
Hold steady Sir Keir and your formidable MP's .
I know mistakes will be made along the way and some decisions may need to be reviewed, but we cannot go back.

It’s a disgusting article.

In the early 80s, there was a Question Time where mining it was discussed, and Arthur Scargill was on the panel. He justified the NUMs stance as "ensuring sons of miners could become miners" or something along those lines.

An American lass in the audience was selected to speak, and she asked him why he had such a poor ambition for these people and why didn't he want them to study to be doctors, teachers, lawyers and the like ?

It was an excellent question, met with fuck all from Scargill (as you might imagine). Which I suspect Robin Day would have made sure the audience were aware of.

Disgustingly accurate, agreed.

@SerendipityJane Have you read Fiona Hill's book "There's nothing for you here" ?
It is very good and addresses exactly that difficulty.
As an 11+ girl from a truly working class background, the book really resonated with me.

Why exactly do you think that?

I haven't, but I think I'd like to.

I come from an age where girls did dressmaking and boys metalwork and no one (well, except my DM) thought it odd.

It's interesting one of the more "subtle" attempts to denigrate socialism and a desire for proper equality was to highlight the Soviet championing of women in industry. Which presumably appealed to the UKIPpers and the women who support them when they were banging on about dirty fridges (or somesuch nonsense, I may not have been paying attention).

Because it portrays ordinary farmers being duped by the aristocratic overlords. Nothing could be further from the truth.