School scores
The YouGov poll on education makes for interesting reading (“Our schools ain’t broke,” February). Two particular areas of reform that Michael Gove favours get the thumbs down in these polls. The first is basing GCSE and A Level results entirely on exams. The public is also wary of private companies running schools. Michael Gove has hinted at profit making schools, something we rule out.
Unhealthy food is also a concern. Michael Gove exempted academies and free schools from the rules on healthy meals which Labour brought in following Jamie Oliver’s campaign. Healthy eating can make a difference not just in terms of obesity, but improving academic performance too.Stephen Twigg, shadow education secretary
Opponents of Michael Gove’s reforms will take succour from Peter Kellner’s finding that a majority of people think our schools generally provide a good education. But other surveys suggest they could be doing better. Lord Aschcroft commissioned a survey last year that revealed more schoolchildren associate the name “Churchill” with the animated dog in the insurance adverts than with Britain’s war-time prime minister. International evidence suggests there’s room for improvement. If you compare the 2000 and 2009 PISA league tables (compiled by the OECD), the performance of British schoolchildren in maths, reading and science declined dramatically over the period. Toby Young, chair of governors, West London Free School
Not the 1930s The failure of coalition economic policies looks different if seen from the perspective of two previous depressions triggered by financial collapse, in the 1890s and 1930s (“Osborne was wrong,” January). British exports grew very slowly in the 1890s and failed to recover 1929 levels in the 1930s. We are having a similar experience today. In both the 1890s and the 1930s recovery in output was rapid but was propelled mainly by domestic manufacturing and by housing booms. Neither of these can provide the necessary stimulus now. Housing was damaged by its association with disasters in the financial sector; manufacturing simply is not big enough now to make a real difference. A significant surge in growth will have to come from the service sector; and the City, which provided the dynamism in the previous boom, is now a bruised victim of its own hubris. Peter Cain, emeritus professor of history, Sheffield Hallam University
Women vs Tories? To suggest that the Conservatives are “targeting” women (and apparently the wrong ones) is an argument which has little validity (“Their real women problem,” February). We know that the things that concern women are the same things that concern men—employment, education, growth and making sure that their children won’t be saddled with bills they can’t afford. We have reflected that understanding in our policies—in two years we have cut the deficit by a quarter, taken two million of the lowest-paid out of income tax altogether, boosted the private sector with over a million new jobs and put in place reforms to deliver a welfare system that works and schools that teach. Conservatives back everyone who wants to work hard and get on in life—male or female. Mary Macleod, Conservative MP for Brentford and Isleworth
It’s women of all groups that are turning away from David Cameron, which is unsurprising as women are taking the pain for the Conservatives’ failed economic policies. Women struggle to balance the household budget when prices are fast outstripping family incomes; women have been hit three times as hard as men by cuts to tax credits and benefits; women are responsible for the bulk of childcare and care of the elderly, and are in the frontline of cuts to public services; and women gain the least from tax cuts. The government’s gender-blind economic policy misses an essential truth: policies that are bad for women are bad for the whole family. No wonder women don’t trust the Tories.Kate Green, shadow equalities minister
Scotland’s EU hopes John Kerr argues that “Scots… would do well to bear in mind above all that independence from the UK means leaving the EU, with no automatic return ticket” (“Don’t count on it,” February). I would like to assure Lord Kerr that Scotland has no intention of leaving the European Union and as the Irish European minister amongst others has made clear there is no situation in which Scotland “could, would or should” be thrown out of the EU. Scotland’s referendum will take place in 2014 with independence, subject to a Yes vote, proposed for March 2016 following negotiations on the transition to an independent state. The Scottish Government has made clear that in those circumstances we will negotiate the specific terms of our continued membership of the EU from within. Scotland has been a member of the EU for 40 years and already meets key membership criteria. Our significant assets including North Sea oil and gas, renewable energy, education and fisheries ensure Scotland will be welcome as an independent member state. I’d like to assure Lord Kerr and your readers that as an independent member state, Scotland will play its part as a valued and active partner within the EU. Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s minister for external affairs and international development
There are no exact EU parallels, but the UN precedents are probably relevant. When the Soviet Union broke up, Russia simply inherited the old Soviet seats in the UN. Two of the other constituent republics of the former USSR were already UN members. The rest applied to become new members and were quickly admitted. Brian Barder, Prospect website
John Kerr assumes that England would inherit EU membership more automatically than Scotland. Other member states may well conclude that an energy rich, Europhile, social democratic-leaning Scotland with strong historic ties to European trade (predating the Union) is more attractive than a deeply Eurosceptic, neoliberal England unable to break free from an imperial past. Lindsay Hall, Orkney
Israel’s defence Ehud Barak uses the same false argument that has been heard before—that Israel is a defenceless victim fighting to survive among many enemies (“Stiff-necked people,” January). The reality is different. Israel has a far superior military compared to its neighbours, nuclear capabilities and the most powerful ally—the US. Barak fails to mention that Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank face the threat of invasion and live in the biggest open prison in the world. If Israel wants security, it has to stop building illegal settlements in the occupied territories, cease to create violence with its neighbours during their election period and most importantly stop playing the illusionary defenceless victim card. Alexander Clackson, Birkenhead
An excellent account (“One last chance for the two-state solution?” February). The prospects for a solution will remain forlorn until the US grasps that compulsion/leverage must be an essential aspect of the peace process. For all our sakes, not least of all, that of Israel. David Cartwright, Prospect website
Magnet for migrants Underlying Philip Collins’s analysis of the census is the assumption that massive levels of immigration have become inevitable but, as he himself recognises, they largely result from the previous government’s decision to loosen immigration regulations (“Five questions for Britain,” February). Yet only one third of net migration came from EU countries. The real question is how the 200,000 annual non-EU net inflow can be reduced without undue harm to other policy objectives. Andrew Green, chairman of Migration Watch
Travesty of war Congratulations on your incisive coverage of the Sri Lankan civil war and its aftermath, a travesty too rarely reported ("A bad peace," February). The underlying causes have not been addressed, so the future for peaceful resolution looks pessimistic. Alan Bullion, author of “India, Sri Lanka and the Tamil Crisis”
Opponents of Michael Gove’s reforms will take succour from Peter Kellner’s finding that a majority of people think our schools generally provide a good education. But other surveys suggest they could be doing better. Lord Aschcroft commissioned a survey last year that revealed more schoolchildren associate the name “Churchill” with the animated dog in the insurance adverts than with Britain’s war-time prime minister. International evidence suggests there’s room for improvement. If you compare the 2000 and 2009 PISA league tables (compiled by the OECD), the performance of British schoolchildren in maths, reading and science declined dramatically over the period. Toby Young, chair of governors, West London Free School
Not the 1930s The failure of coalition economic policies looks different if seen from the perspective of two previous depressions triggered by financial collapse, in the 1890s and 1930s (“Osborne was wrong,” January). British exports grew very slowly in the 1890s and failed to recover 1929 levels in the 1930s. We are having a similar experience today. In both the 1890s and the 1930s recovery in output was rapid but was propelled mainly by domestic manufacturing and by housing booms. Neither of these can provide the necessary stimulus now. Housing was damaged by its association with disasters in the financial sector; manufacturing simply is not big enough now to make a real difference. A significant surge in growth will have to come from the service sector; and the City, which provided the dynamism in the previous boom, is now a bruised victim of its own hubris. Peter Cain, emeritus professor of history, Sheffield Hallam University
Women vs Tories? To suggest that the Conservatives are “targeting” women (and apparently the wrong ones) is an argument which has little validity (“Their real women problem,” February). We know that the things that concern women are the same things that concern men—employment, education, growth and making sure that their children won’t be saddled with bills they can’t afford. We have reflected that understanding in our policies—in two years we have cut the deficit by a quarter, taken two million of the lowest-paid out of income tax altogether, boosted the private sector with over a million new jobs and put in place reforms to deliver a welfare system that works and schools that teach. Conservatives back everyone who wants to work hard and get on in life—male or female. Mary Macleod, Conservative MP for Brentford and Isleworth
It’s women of all groups that are turning away from David Cameron, which is unsurprising as women are taking the pain for the Conservatives’ failed economic policies. Women struggle to balance the household budget when prices are fast outstripping family incomes; women have been hit three times as hard as men by cuts to tax credits and benefits; women are responsible for the bulk of childcare and care of the elderly, and are in the frontline of cuts to public services; and women gain the least from tax cuts. The government’s gender-blind economic policy misses an essential truth: policies that are bad for women are bad for the whole family. No wonder women don’t trust the Tories.Kate Green, shadow equalities minister
Scotland’s EU hopes John Kerr argues that “Scots… would do well to bear in mind above all that independence from the UK means leaving the EU, with no automatic return ticket” (“Don’t count on it,” February). I would like to assure Lord Kerr that Scotland has no intention of leaving the European Union and as the Irish European minister amongst others has made clear there is no situation in which Scotland “could, would or should” be thrown out of the EU. Scotland’s referendum will take place in 2014 with independence, subject to a Yes vote, proposed for March 2016 following negotiations on the transition to an independent state. The Scottish Government has made clear that in those circumstances we will negotiate the specific terms of our continued membership of the EU from within. Scotland has been a member of the EU for 40 years and already meets key membership criteria. Our significant assets including North Sea oil and gas, renewable energy, education and fisheries ensure Scotland will be welcome as an independent member state. I’d like to assure Lord Kerr and your readers that as an independent member state, Scotland will play its part as a valued and active partner within the EU. Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s minister for external affairs and international development
There are no exact EU parallels, but the UN precedents are probably relevant. When the Soviet Union broke up, Russia simply inherited the old Soviet seats in the UN. Two of the other constituent republics of the former USSR were already UN members. The rest applied to become new members and were quickly admitted. Brian Barder, Prospect website
John Kerr assumes that England would inherit EU membership more automatically than Scotland. Other member states may well conclude that an energy rich, Europhile, social democratic-leaning Scotland with strong historic ties to European trade (predating the Union) is more attractive than a deeply Eurosceptic, neoliberal England unable to break free from an imperial past. Lindsay Hall, Orkney
Israel’s defence Ehud Barak uses the same false argument that has been heard before—that Israel is a defenceless victim fighting to survive among many enemies (“Stiff-necked people,” January). The reality is different. Israel has a far superior military compared to its neighbours, nuclear capabilities and the most powerful ally—the US. Barak fails to mention that Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank face the threat of invasion and live in the biggest open prison in the world. If Israel wants security, it has to stop building illegal settlements in the occupied territories, cease to create violence with its neighbours during their election period and most importantly stop playing the illusionary defenceless victim card. Alexander Clackson, Birkenhead
An excellent account (“One last chance for the two-state solution?” February). The prospects for a solution will remain forlorn until the US grasps that compulsion/leverage must be an essential aspect of the peace process. For all our sakes, not least of all, that of Israel. David Cartwright, Prospect website
Magnet for migrants Underlying Philip Collins’s analysis of the census is the assumption that massive levels of immigration have become inevitable but, as he himself recognises, they largely result from the previous government’s decision to loosen immigration regulations (“Five questions for Britain,” February). Yet only one third of net migration came from EU countries. The real question is how the 200,000 annual non-EU net inflow can be reduced without undue harm to other policy objectives. Andrew Green, chairman of Migration Watch
Travesty of war Congratulations on your incisive coverage of the Sri Lankan civil war and its aftermath, a travesty too rarely reported ("A bad peace," February). The underlying causes have not been addressed, so the future for peaceful resolution looks pessimistic. Alan Bullion, author of “India, Sri Lanka and the Tamil Crisis”
