Even the government’s ‘greatest achievement’ is a failure

Andrew Grice’s report of a government minister claiming the educational reforms of a decade ago as the stand-out achievement of their time in office, confirms how little vision, purpose and direction there has been at the heart of government. However, before this singular “achievement” is taken as read it is worth taking time to evaluate its actual legacy.

The reforms that were hastily put in place by Michael Gove may appear to have been admirably committed to “driving up standards”, but failed to address the areas in real need of reform. Gove ran roughshod over the profession, demonised those who had opinions different to his own and imposed a curriculum model that was based on his past rather than one that would equip young people for the future.

Successive secretaries of state, who know little about education and stay in post for too short a time to understand the issues at stake, rely on simplistic performance measures to gauge success. As a consequence, schools feel obliged to “teach to the test” rather than providing a relevant and engaging curriculum that enables young people to love learning.

What we have in the wake of Gove is an underfunded education system with undervalued teachers doing their best for young people with limited resources in buildings that are, in many areas, unfit for purpose if not unsafe.

Graham Powell

Cirencester

Now that the dust has settled on Sunak’s decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2, the extent of the betrayal is clear.

It is a betrayal of the northern parts of the UK, who were promised improved transport links. It is also a betrayal of all people living between London and the north, whose current rail journeys will not be improved by the extra capacity brought by phases two and three of HS2.

It is a betrayal of the construction industry, which has found itself building a line to nowhere. It is a betrayal of a generation of British engineering talent, which cannot look forward to a flagship project to work on and many of whom now likely face redundancy as a result.

It is a betrayal of the leg to the Midlands which will be completed but now has no purpose.

And it is a betrayal of the UK as a place to invest. What is attractive about a country led by a government which has shown that it has no infrastructure strategy (not just for rail: think also energy generation, water management, housing, manufacturing capacity, and so on)?

Those bits of the second leg which have been started will stand as a reminder of the folly of this decision. I do not advocate uncontrolled spending of public money, but this government is responsible for a large part of the budget escalation: poor planning and project vision, indecision, bad decisions like starting with the southern end and going to Euston instead of linking to HS1.

This government has shown that it has no vision, no understanding, no strategy, no commitment. In fact, the alternative transport investments which Sunak promised were quickly downgraded less than a day later to “illustrative examples” of what might be. And all the while our taxes are wasted elsewhere on incompetence and failing policies with nothing of lasting value to show.

It is beyond time for a change, but a change also of system where we have a more collaborative structure instead of the confrontational two-party yo-yo mess we currently have.

Charles Wood

Birmingham

Rishi Sunak has warned of the dangers posed by artificial intelligence. From what we have witnessed in recent years it seems to me that what we need in this country and especially in government is more intelligence, be it artificial or otherwise.

G Forward

Stirling

In 1970 the IRA were told that a political settlement of the troubles was not possible. After years of death and destruction, heads were banged together and a political settlement was arrived at.

Where, oh where, are the leaders of stature to bring Israel and Palestine to the negotiating table? Until then, there will be no end to the carnage.

Joanna Pallister

Address supplied