Posts Tagged “michael gove”
Why IDS is still in his job is revealing of Conservative attitudes to social security
by Stephen Tall on December 10, 2014
When Andrew Lansley’s health reforms ran into trouble – and his inability to take with him the public or those working in the NHS proved toxic – David Cameron reshuffled him out of harm’s way. Jeremy Hunt was brought in to make nice to the health sector and patients. When Michael Gove’s education reforms started […]
Michael Gove: The Case for the Defence. And also the Case for the Prosecution.
by Stephen Tall on July 16, 2014
Unlike most Lib Dems, I am not a Gove-hater. But nor do I share the adulation those one on the Right bestow upon him. The man we must now call the former Education secretary was more complex than his critics allowed and more flawed than his fans admitted. No-one should doubt Michael Gove’s passion for […]
“What should the political parties promise on education in 2015?” – What I told Policy Exchange…
by Stephen Tall on June 11, 2014
I was one of the speakers at this weekend’s Policy Exchange conference which posed the question, ‘What should the political parties promise on education in 2015?’ Though I work in the education sector, I was there in a personal capacity to offer a Lib Dem perspective; very kindly Policy Exchange had invited Michael Gove and […]
Fraser Nelson’s must-read guide to utterly and completely misunderstanding the Lib Dems’ Coalition strategy
by Stephen Tall on February 7, 2014
Fraser Nelson has written a must-read guide to utterly and completely misunderstanding the Lib Dems’ Coalition strategy today. My guess is he’s reliant on Tory intelligence, which in this case is an oxymoron. Much of it is the usual half-fair/half-unfair admixture of insults regularly thrown at the Lib Dems by the right-wing media. We are, […]
Gove and Laws scrap it out on front pages over sacking of Ofsted head. Here’s what the row is all about.
by Stephen Tall on February 2, 2014
Today’s newspaper front pages are full of the scrap taking place at the heart of the Department for Education between Conservative secretary of state Michael Gove and Lib Dem schools minister David Laws: Ofsted row: Lib Dems furious at Conservative plan to ‘politicise’ classrooms (Independent on Sunday) Lib Dems savage Gove over sacked schools boss […]
Nice try, George. But the Pupil Premium is happening only because the Lib Dems are in government
by Stephen Tall on September 30, 2013
Who has made sure the Pupil Premium is being delivered in Government? Pretty straightforward question, you might think: the Liberal Democrats. Not if you’re George Osborne, though… “I sit at that Cabinet table and I know who has really put forward the policies that are delivering a fairer society. The pupil premium to support the […]
CentreForum Liberal Hero of the Week #39: Diane Abbott
by Stephen Tall on June 17, 2013
Liberal Hero of the Week (and occasional Villains) is chosen by Stephen Tall, Co-Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice, and Research Associate at CentreForum. The series showcases those who promote any of the four liberal tenets identified in The Orange Book — economic, personal, political and social liberalism — regardless of party affiliation and from beyond Westminster. If […]
Clegg leadership plot: Gove’s ‘crazy grenade’ detonates, briefly, before Tories revert to arguing about Europe
by Stephen Tall on May 12, 2013
Hats off to Mr Gove! With the Tory party in its customary state of internecine warfare over Europe, the education secretary used his interview this morning on The Andrew Marr Show to allege a leadership plot to overthrow Nick Clegg. Here’s PoliticsHome’s account: Michael Gove has suggested Nick Clegg’s opposition to increasing childminders-toddlers ratio is […]
Evidence-based policy is now official government policy. So will they actually follow the evidence?
by Stephen Tall on March 4, 2013
As of today, I officially work for a ‘What Works’ organisation – the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) – part of the ‘What Works Network’ Danny Alexander and Oliver Letwin are launching today. Here’s the Financial Times report: A drive to (…)