Archive for david laws
David Laws vetoes plan to force schools to check immigrant status of pupils
The Guardian reports: A proposal to require schools to check on the immigration status of their pupils has been shelved after the Liberal Democrat schools minister David Laws decided the idea would be bureaucratic and difficult to implement. In a sign of the Lib Dems’ determination to assert themselves in the coalition, Laws told the [...]
David Howarth: liberals should increase indirect taxes
Martin Tod recently drew my attention to a short publication from David Howarth published over the summer about levels of public spending: Spending and Growth – a response to David Laws. As the title suggests, it is primarily a response to someone else’s views on appropriate levels of public spending: Laws’ assertion that public spending [...]
Another day at conference, another education policy launched
Tax, tax and a bit more about tax: that’s been the main theme of the Liberal Democrat conference, from the slogan on badges and the banner outside the building through to the content of speeches and the main policy focus of the media coverage. When it comes to new policy announcements, however, it is education [...]
Now on iTunes: 101 Ways To Win An Election
It would appear I have been slipping in the book plugging department: Apparently @markpack has recently written a book. He never mentions it. He needs to learn to push himself forward. #LDconf — Ben Mathis (@binny_uk) September 24, 2012 @paddyashdown shows @markpack is still an amateur on book promotion:-) #LDConf #libertyfringe — Caron Lindsay (@caronmlindsay) [...]
Lib Dems announce further £100m for summer schools to help children catch-up
2012 saw £50m spent on a new summer schools scheme to help the most disadvantaged children: Nearly 2,000 new summer schools will open their classroom doors … to help some of the most disadvantaged pupils in England in the step up from primary to secondary school. Around 65,000 children are expected to benefit. Following the [...]
Conference preview: Saturday and Sunday
This year, the Liberal Democrat autumn conference has one day per theme, covering jobs, education, environment and tax. Saturday is education day, with David Laws giving a keynote speech. For many party members he is more respected than trusted; recognised for his skills yet leaving people uneasy over quite what a David Laws manifesto would [...]
David Laws on today’s exam announcements
From an email to party members: The Coalition has today announced our plan to replace GCSEs with new, reformed qualifications. Our proposals will restore rigour to the exam system, allow us to compete on the international stage, and end years of grade inflation under Labour. When some Conservatives suggested that we could bring back the [...]
Reshuffle thoughts: how does it score against my four criteria?
Ahead of the reshuffle, I posted four criteria against which the Liberal Democrat part of the shuffling should be judged. Now nearly all the details are in, how does it look? Most importantly, have people been put in jobs they’ve got a decent chance of doing well? It’s hard enough being a minister in [...]
Four ways I’ll judge the Lib Dem side of today’s reshuffle
As Simom McGrath commented on Twitter: Just think thisis the first reshuffle for nearly 100 years in whichwe Liberals are wondering which of our Ministers will get moved — Lib Dem Life (@libdemlife) September 4, 2012 How to judge the changes being made today on the Liberal Democrat side? Here’s the criteria I’ll be using: [...]
The Lib Dem political plan for the next year
The Queen inspires more terror than George Osborne. That is the tempting conclusion to be drawn from comparing the Queen’s Speech (volume of advanced leaks: low) with the Budget (volume of advanced leaks: high). After all, Osborne can tax you but the Queen has the Tower of London… Combined, however, they tried to set the [...]
