The Last couple of years for the Labour party in the UK has been somewhat of a roller coaster and I am not going to get all party political in this blog, but I am going to raise something that I think many politicians can learn from.
So lets wind the clock back.... but not too far.... not as far back as siblings Milliband were going head to head but to the point just after the awkward photo of Milliband Clegg and Cameron the morning after the general election. Ed Miliband took the decision to step down following the election result triggering a leadership contest in which the Jeremy Corbyn was nominated, possibly to stir it up a little, and very quickly it became apparent that within the Labour party he was becoming very popular and it is at this point that I think the lesson of the last 15 months for all parties starts:-
As soon as his popularity became apparent a number of senior politicians expressed the view that if he were elected the party would be un-electable. So the MP's were advising the grass routes membership that they did not want Corbyn as leader and at that point it was fair for them to air that opinion. Jeremy Corbyn then went on to win with 59% of the membership vote, Just pause for a second, the membership of the party voted by nearly two thirds in a four way battle to elect the leader they wanted knowing that this was not the MP's popular choice. This is the democratic right of the membership and so the leadership was settled, the new leader was elected and it was time for MP's to get on with the job.
Earlier this year we had the EU referendum and I agree that Jeremy Corbyn was slow out of the blocks and probably enjoyed the blue on blue a little too much, he didn't come out fighting as he was expected to do. So the MP's who didn't want him there in the first place in my opinion used this as an opportunity to fight the democratic decision of the grass routes membership. The MP's were saying "we don't like the leader you have chosen and so we will vote we have no confidence in your choice and want a different one". The vote of confidence happened and Jeremy lost so the leadership battle commenced.
3 months on and we have seen a summer of rule changes, court battles, trolling, a bruising campaign and the grass routes membership have voted for their leader who is Jeremy Corbyn, with a bigger share of the vote than before. All of that emotion, political damage and money spent to get the result the membership wanted in the first place.
This does raise the question when is it a good time to have a vote of no confidence if you don't like the result.
The lesson must be that whilst MP's are elected to make decisions they must listen to their constituents and party members on the ground especially if they can make the decision, Remember its grass routes members that select and elect MP's.
Saturday, 24 September 2016
Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Ninefoot Park a place to play IDEA
Quote George Osborne in Manchester 16th September 2016 09:20.
"Frankly when you're in politics and do jobs like I have done you put out ideas and launch initiatives that don't get off the ground"
So this idea is about improving the park near where I live,
Ninefoot park,
A place of play
Current position
Nine foot park is a large open public space, tree lined containing 2 football pitches and evidence of previous place equipment.
Proposal,
To create an open space with a variety of activities for all ages to enjoy the great outdoors, including places to play, exercise or rest and relax.
The proposal is to set up a local interest/residents/park neighbours group to work in partnership with the public sector to oversee and deliver an equipped open space. This will include aspiration, designing, fund raising (collections, donations and grant funding)and planning the project. Equipment will be procured and installed by professional specialist companies.
Equipment
- 2 sport walls, one for teens and adults and one for juniors, these are the traditional wall with goal and basketball hoop, I wrote of the virtues of kicking a ball in the blog entry about Childhood Obesity, basically unless the ball comes back its really boring.
- 2 climbing frame/ play areas as per the pictures below, this is to cater for different age groups
- 2 twin frames of swings, providing 4 cradle swings and 4 normal swings, it amazes me how people just love sitting on swings.
- Covered benches are also needed in the park to focus places to sit and spend time
- 1 Adult/teen trim track 1.5 km trim trail including 8-10 different exercises and signage for direction and instruction
Delivery
- Confirm TBC have no plans or reasons to refuse as landowners etc
- Create Group
- Agree roles
- Agree designs
- Create fundraising plan
- Source suppliers
- Install equipment
Before too much work is done we must be clear that the landowner will not have any issues in trying to complete this. It is also important that we work with the local authority as this will have an impact on deliverability with regards Public Liability, planning permission and landlords consent.
Whilst at this stage this scheme is merely an idea a key to delivering the long term sustainability of the area community buy in is essential. The role of a local interest group is key to the projects delivery however the roles within the group will be varied from soft consultation and participation with events through to part time volunteer role in project management or treasury.| Costs of project | |||
| Phase 1 | Childrens play | £40,260.00 | |
| Phase costs | £40,260.00 | ||
| Phase 2 | MUGA x 2 | £33,462.00 | |
| Phase costs | £33,462.00 | ||
| Phase 3 | Adult Trim Trail estimated costs | £4,565.00 | |
| Phase costs | £4,565.00 | ||
| Project Costs | £78,287.00 |
these costs are from suppliers I found locally and the photos here are from their website.
| Phase 1 | Childrens Play | |
| Item | Costs | |
| 1 | bombay under 6 clc/bom | £9,556.00 |
| 2 | London 6+ | £24,329.00 |
| 3 | city 2 bar cradle swing scsw(2) | £3,055.00 |
| 4 | city 2 bay junior swing | £3,320.00 |
| total (including installation) | £40,260.00 |
| Phase 2 | Ball Games area estimated costs | |
| Item | Costs | |
| 1 | Sportswall Junior Classic | £16,731.00 |
| 2 | Sports wall Classic | £16,731.00 |
| total (including installation) | £33,462.00 | |
| Phase3 | Adult Trim Trail estimated costs | |
| Item | Costs | |
| 1 | Tyre Run | £375.00 |
| 2 | 2m Climbing Wall | £675.00 |
| 3 | Net Climb | 1,150.00 |
| 4 | Heaves & Lying Heaves | £495.00 |
| 5 | Rope Assault | £950.00 |
| Customised Trail Data Board x 2 | ||
| Pair Trail data board support posts 2.4m x 4 | £220.00 | |
| Oval 60 degree Station Indicators x 10 | £250.00 | |
| 60 degree Cut Station Indicator Post x 10 | £450.00 | |
| total (plus installation) | £4,565.00 | |
Monday, 19 September 2016
Grammar schools
Grammar schools, are they the answer to improving the British economy through improved school results?
There will be lots of debate in the next few weeks about how exclusive or dividing the selection process will be. I personally sit on the fence at the moment when it comes to the grammar school debate, but I am passionate about education and try my hardest to help my kids get good results at school.
As I've titled this about Grammar schools I suppose I must put some opinion on here. I have no problem with kids who are more academic being given the relevant support and opportunity they need to achieve their full potential just as I also believe that kids who are more vocational need the relevant support and opportunity they need to achieve their full attentional. I do not at present know whether I believe this should be based on a competitive entry with limited numbers.
I have expressed a view in the passed that it worries me that teens likely to get good gcse results, then A levels, then go on to university are often neglected and just running on a tread mill as they "do not need" additional support it is often those who struggle in education who get the assistance with carriers advice to avoid NEETs and we end up with some bright kids either making a poor decision or slipping through the net and not achieving their potential.
Where I live I have been lucky to get my children into a good primary school and having moved around the town a number of times in the last 12 years we have experienced various teaching styles and results. As i have children from 1 year to nearly 18 I have also seen the progression through the education system from start to finish. This has given me the opinion that the most important step in the education ladder is primary school education. Children must get a good solid grip of the basics when it comes to Maths and English before their minds are polluted by LEET, the language of the Internet and social media.
Two of my children have been through or are working on their GCSE's and I do not believe they ever really had a grasp of the basic and so struggle when the work gets more complex. There is a whole debate about class sizes and progression of the curriculum at the pace dictated.
The above point leads me to my opinion that whilst grammar schools are being discussed and in the same way as when academies were discussed we continue to take our eye off the primary schools. I personally feel that this is where the investment should be in regards all resources.
There will be lots of debate in the next few weeks about how exclusive or dividing the selection process will be. I personally sit on the fence at the moment when it comes to the grammar school debate, but I am passionate about education and try my hardest to help my kids get good results at school.
As I've titled this about Grammar schools I suppose I must put some opinion on here. I have no problem with kids who are more academic being given the relevant support and opportunity they need to achieve their full potential just as I also believe that kids who are more vocational need the relevant support and opportunity they need to achieve their full attentional. I do not at present know whether I believe this should be based on a competitive entry with limited numbers.
I have expressed a view in the passed that it worries me that teens likely to get good gcse results, then A levels, then go on to university are often neglected and just running on a tread mill as they "do not need" additional support it is often those who struggle in education who get the assistance with carriers advice to avoid NEETs and we end up with some bright kids either making a poor decision or slipping through the net and not achieving their potential.
Where I live I have been lucky to get my children into a good primary school and having moved around the town a number of times in the last 12 years we have experienced various teaching styles and results. As i have children from 1 year to nearly 18 I have also seen the progression through the education system from start to finish. This has given me the opinion that the most important step in the education ladder is primary school education. Children must get a good solid grip of the basics when it comes to Maths and English before their minds are polluted by LEET, the language of the Internet and social media.
Two of my children have been through or are working on their GCSE's and I do not believe they ever really had a grasp of the basic and so struggle when the work gets more complex. There is a whole debate about class sizes and progression of the curriculum at the pace dictated.
The above point leads me to my opinion that whilst grammar schools are being discussed and in the same way as when academies were discussed we continue to take our eye off the primary schools. I personally feel that this is where the investment should be in regards all resources.
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