City Deal clinched to boost recovery in Swindon (From Swindon Advertiser)

I can see one big splinter in the works straight away for Swindon, the gross financial incompetence of the council.

If they are given millions in training funding will it find it's way to front line students or will it be swallowed up in fees to consultants and new training providers set up for the purpose by mates of councillors.

Government may well give the money and resources but will they ensure it is used correctly. Take the New Buy housing scheme, it was supposed to aid first time buyers, but all that's happened both in Swindon and nationwide is that new buys have been inflated in price, the 20% equity loan has been used to reduce the cost and the new buyer is simply paying market value.

The Government know but seem unwilling or unable to put it right.

Will this be the same with millions going into private bank accounts courtesy of the tax and rate payer. My guess is yes.

Governement and Tory MPs agree that Education will "help kick-start economic recovery", "help secure jobs and growth"
Isn't it the biggest U turn in political History?

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
Governement and Tory MPs agree that Education will "help kick-start economic recovery", "help secure jobs and growth"
Isn't it the biggest U turn in political History?

How so? All governments pour billions of our money into 'education' - despite out children coming out of the system less educated than ever in many cases.

It's like the NHS, they just throw our money at it and claim it's the best in the world.

If you can point us towards any evidence of the Tories claiming that education is unimportant and a secondary concern, fire away.

Tim Newroman wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
Governement and Tory MPs agree that Education will "help kick-start economic recovery", "help secure jobs and growth"
Isn't it the biggest U turn in political History?

How so? All governments pour billions of our money into 'education' - despite out children coming out of the system less educated than ever in many cases.

It's like the NHS, they just throw our money at it and claim it's the best in the world.

If you can point us towards any evidence of the Tories claiming that education is unimportant and a secondary concern, fire away.

Let me just say that in anyone's mind, the Tories are the least associated with promoting,supporting Education.
That is a fact.

No hope whatsoever!

Wonderful Swindon Borough Council have really helped business by opting out of the high speed broadband scheme for Wiltshire and Gloucestershire in favour of the already failed 4g system.

With management like that one can only look forward to the inevitable change in party power next year.

Meldrews Dad wrote:
No hope whatsoever!

Wonderful Swindon Borough Council have really helped business by opting out of the high speed broadband scheme for Wiltshire and Gloucestershire in favour of the already failed 4g system.

With management like that one can only look forward to the inevitable change in party power next year.

That maybe so, but I will not vote Labour unless they can present a budget that has been independently approved by accountants, otherwise this could end with the medicine being worse than the disease.

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

Tim Newroman wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
Governement and Tory MPs agree that Education will "help kick-start economic recovery", "help secure jobs and growth"
Isn't it the biggest U turn in political History?

How so? All governments pour billions of our money into 'education' - despite out children coming out of the system less educated than ever in many cases.

It's like the NHS, they just throw our money at it and claim it's the best in the world.

If you can point us towards any evidence of the Tories claiming that education is unimportant and a secondary concern, fire away.

Let me just say that in anyone's mind, the Tories are the least associated with promoting,supporting Education.
That is a fact.

No it's not, it's your opinion.

The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

Tim Newroman wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
Governement and Tory MPs agree that Education will "help kick-start economic recovery", "help secure jobs and growth"
Isn't it the biggest U turn in political History?

How so? All governments pour billions of our money into 'education' - despite out children coming out of the system less educated than ever in many cases.

It's like the NHS, they just throw our money at it and claim it's the best in the world.

If you can point us towards any evidence of the Tories claiming that education is unimportant and a secondary concern, fire away.

Let me just say that in anyone's mind, the Tories are the least associated with promoting,supporting Education.
That is a fact.

No it's not, it's your opinion.

go to a school / university, speak to teachers and pupils and ask them....you should get some colourful answers, I promise you.

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

Tim Newroman wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
Governement and Tory MPs agree that Education will "help kick-start economic recovery", "help secure jobs and growth"
Isn't it the biggest U turn in political History?

How so? All governments pour billions of our money into 'education' - despite out children coming out of the system less educated than ever in many cases.

It's like the NHS, they just throw our money at it and claim it's the best in the world.

If you can point us towards any evidence of the Tories claiming that education is unimportant and a secondary concern, fire away.

Let me just say that in anyone's mind, the Tories are the least associated with promoting,supporting Education.
That is a fact.

No it's not, it's your opinion.

go to a school / university, speak to teachers and pupils and ask them....you should get some colourful answers, I promise you.

colourful answers, maybe, but that's still an opinion, not fact.

What we have to remember is teachers don't like to be accountable, so any Government that tries is doomed to fail. The teachers will make dam sure of that.

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

Tim Newroman wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
Governement and Tory MPs agree that Education will "help kick-start economic recovery", "help secure jobs and growth"
Isn't it the biggest U turn in political History?

How so? All governments pour billions of our money into 'education' - despite out children coming out of the system less educated than ever in many cases.

It's like the NHS, they just throw our money at it and claim it's the best in the world.

If you can point us towards any evidence of the Tories claiming that education is unimportant and a secondary concern, fire away.

Let me just say that in anyone's mind, the Tories are the least associated with promoting,supporting Education.
That is a fact.

What on earth are you talking about?

UK government spending under Labour in 2010: £88.3 billion

UK government spending under the Tory led coalition in 2013: £97.2 billion

So, in a little over 2 years, the Tories have increased spending on education by over 10%.

The Tory party has traditionally always been the party of education, that is why Blair carefully tried to re-position New Labour with his 'Education, education, education' lies of 1996.

It seems you don't know much about UK history prior to the mid-90s, but, then, you probably weren't living here before that.

Tim Newroman wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

Tim Newroman wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
Governement and Tory MPs agree that Education will "help kick-start economic recovery", "help secure jobs and growth"
Isn't it the biggest U turn in political History?

How so? All governments pour billions of our money into 'education' - despite out children coming out of the system less educated than ever in many cases.

It's like the NHS, they just throw our money at it and claim it's the best in the world.

If you can point us towards any evidence of the Tories claiming that education is unimportant and a secondary concern, fire away.

Let me just say that in anyone's mind, the Tories are the least associated with promoting,supporting Education.
That is a fact.

What on earth are you talking about?

UK government spending under Labour in 2010: £88.3 billion

UK government spending under the Tory led coalition in 2013: £97.2 billion

So, in a little over 2 years, the Tories have increased spending on education by over 10%.

The Tory party has traditionally always been the party of education, that is why Blair carefully tried to re-position New Labour with his 'Education, education, education' lies of 1996.

It seems you don't know much about UK history prior to the mid-90s, but, then, you probably weren't living here before that.

You are in absolute no position to win this argument with me.
You can maybe muster a couple of numbers to prove an elusive point but I can name, date Acts and Laws proving that the Tories not only do not support Education but actively fought against free education.
Do you really want to make a fool of yourself?

@A.Baron-Cohen: what you mean is, I've just proven that the current Tory led government has actually INCREASED spending on education - coming on top of the record levels spent by the last Labour government.

It is an absolute nonsense to suggest that ANY political party is opposed to education (free or otherwise) in recent memory.

Indeed, if you knew your history, you would know that secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was provided free to at least the age of 14 under a policy introduced by a Conservative Secretary of State for Education in the The Education Act of 1944.

Quoting acts and laws from before the war clearly has absolutely no relevance to the modern day's welfare state based society.

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

Tim Newroman wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

Tim Newroman wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
Governement and Tory MPs agree that Education will "help kick-start economic recovery", "help secure jobs and growth"
Isn't it the biggest U turn in political History?

How so? All governments pour billions of our money into 'education' - despite out children coming out of the system less educated than ever in many cases.

It's like the NHS, they just throw our money at it and claim it's the best in the world.

If you can point us towards any evidence of the Tories claiming that education is unimportant and a secondary concern, fire away.

Let me just say that in anyone's mind, the Tories are the least associated with promoting,supporting Education.
That is a fact.

What on earth are you talking about?

UK government spending under Labour in 2010: £88.3 billion

UK government spending under the Tory led coalition in 2013: £97.2 billion

So, in a little over 2 years, the Tories have increased spending on education by over 10%.

The Tory party has traditionally always been the party of education, that is why Blair carefully tried to re-position New Labour with his 'Education, education, education' lies of 1996.

It seems you don't know much about UK history prior to the mid-90s, but, then, you probably weren't living here before that.

You are in absolute no position to win this argument with me.
You can maybe muster a couple of numbers to prove an elusive point but I can name, date Acts and Laws proving that the Tories not only do not support Education but actively fought against free education.
Do you really want to make a fool of yourself?

Hmmm, seems like education is yet another area you know nothing about.

Tim Newroman wrote:
@A.Baron-Cohen: what you mean is, I've just proven that the current Tory led government has actually INCREASED spending on education - coming on top of the record levels spent by the last Labour government.

It is an absolute nonsense to suggest that ANY political party is opposed to education (free or otherwise) in recent memory.

Indeed, if you knew your history, you would know that secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was provided free to at least the age of 14 under a policy introduced by a Conservative Secretary of State for Education in the The Education Act of 1944.

Quoting acts and laws from before the war clearly has absolutely no relevance to the modern day's welfare state based society.

If you believe that this Government is pro-Education, you are misguided.
Not only, it 1-backtracked on reforms under the pressure of Education professionals, but it is 2-presiding over a fall in the number of graduates (incidentally the first ever recorded) and 3-the highest youth unemployment ever recorded in this country.
Food for thoughts, the Education Act of 1944, wasn't a philanthropic enterprise, it was politically motivated, to beat Labour and its Welfare program, in the end it was a victorious Labour that implemented it and created the Welfare State.
Good day Sir.

@A.Baron-Cohen:

1. Surely that means they're listening to, and doing, what education professionals feel is best for education in this country?

2. Around 50% of people in this country now leave school and attend university. It's an unrealistic and unsustainable figure, which was a false construct of the last Labour government. There was inevitably going to be a drop in the numbers going to University.

3. Youth unemployment doesn't actually have much to do with education in the country, there simply aren't enough jobs, regardless of how educated school leavers might be.

You are incorrect about the Education Act. Of course, most things any government does are done with one eye on shutting down opposition and retaining office - that's politics.

Why do you think Blair lied about 'Education, education, education' if not to further his own aims and ambitions?

As I said, it is demonstrably utterly ludicrous to claim that a government that spends almost £100bn on education - more than any other government in British history - is somehow 'anti-education'.

Maybe it was different where you're from?

RE: 3 - disagree, actually education does have something to do with youth unemployment. Disregarding those that drop out of education early for whatever reason, many students come out of university with their inflated but useless 'qualifications' thinking the world owes them and that they're somehow better than everyone else. The sense of entitlement is amazing to see.

Most successful graduate recruitment is actually done long before they ever left university - work placements, internships and so on that allow the student to leave a strong positive impression on a potential employer. I've seen many students subsequently employed in this way as they are then a known quantity - I've also seen many fall by the wayside as they coast through or irritate existing members of staff.

There are many things that make someone employable, not just the facts that they know - perhaps schools and universities should spend more time coaching on this and preparing students for the real world. Unfortunately this is unlikely to be effective as the teachers are generally as far away from the real world as the students they teach!

@The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man - while I agree with much of your post above, Sacha Baron Cohen was referring to direct, academic education, not preparation for employment, which I would agree are associated but are two distinct things.

The specific point was with regards to current levels of youth unemployment and the education freely available to everyone in this country. It's not the lack of education that is driving the unemployment numbers - that is due, mainly, to there simply not being enough jobs to go round.

Will there be jobs for these people when the training course ends?

I was expecting to see comments from wanna be couciler oliver. Strange he stopped posting on here. Shame as I am sure him and Tim (who started posting as soon as Oliver stopped) share a lot of views. Could be wrong but I think Oliver's wife may have told him off for spouting off and damaging her image??? What do to think Tim?

Localboy86 wrote:
I was expecting to see comments from wanna be couciler oliver. Strange he stopped posting on here. Shame as I am sure him and Tim (who started posting as soon as Oliver stopped) share a lot of views. Could be wrong but I think Oliver's wife may have told him off for spouting off and damaging her image??? What do to think Tim?

I really don't know, Jase. All I do know is that you, as ever, are so wrong about the basics that it's beyond laughable.

But Jase knows oliver, not Tim? How strange. How do you know the people that Oliver know, Tim?