Cameron warns of financial calamity

Although Billothewisp predicted the current dire financial straights the country finds itself in, he hates to to say "In told you so". Especially over such a financial calamity. (See Billothewisp's Crystal Ball July)

But it looks like we really are in the doo-dah up to our necks thanks to Gordon "The Abyss" Brown and his cohort Darling buds of May. But even now Darling makes fatuous statements about how everything was just wine and roses. See Times Here (see Times here)

In truth, Billowthewisp would have gladly, gleefully, gratefully got this wrong as he did with many other of his predictions.

But he didn't.

Our sad ruined little England may well recover.

But, this is going to be a painful 5 years. Maybe more.

It is up to our new "Dear Leader" David Cameron and collegues to pick up the pieces.

At least in Gordon Brown he has a good example:

On NOT how to run the economy.

What about England Dave?

It is good to see that David Cameron has honoured his promise and visited Scotland within one week of taking office. It looks like the Scottish parliament is going to get more tax raising power so it can raise more of its own revenue. Hopefully this means they will be less dependant on Westminster and ultimately the English taxpayer.

The new coalition government has also made some promising statements about repealing the despised Barnett formula and there is a prospect of something being done about the West Lothian issue i.e. Scottish votes on English matters in the Commons.

That is all good news.

But whatever way you cut it, the lack of any form of English assembly is still a running sore. We need at least debate on an English parliament and the future of the Union.

It is simply unfair and undemocratic that all the other countries of the UK have their own parliament/assembly and yet the English have nothing.

The counter argument, often given, is that the UK parliament is also the legitimate English parliament. This infers that then the UK is really England plus colonial outposts. That is an idea that most people within these islands of all nationalities would find distasteful. (and quite rightly so)

The English currently have only a subset of the democratic rights inferred on other UK nations. It is easy to believe that this is simply so England can be bureaucratically administered and can then be used as the cash cow to finance profligacy elsewhere.

I appreciate that there are a mass of problems that this new government have inherited , especially related to our ruined economy. They of course, must be addressed urgently and first.

I do hope though, that these current pressing needs are not used as a subterfuge to sweep the English issue under the carpet.

Cameron, Clegg and Elephants.

Billothewisp has been rather quiet this week due to suffering from 'flu.

So may I offer my belated congratulations to David Cameron and Thingy from the Liberal Doo-Dahs, who have at least managed to lever Gordon Brown out of 10 Downing street.

Actually when you think about it, they should probably get a Nobel prize for that single feat alone.

It is also good to see that there is a possibility for upgrading our decrepit electorial system.

However there is still the Elephant in the room.

Namely that little known and almost forgotten non country of England.

How are our new Divine Duo going to address the no vote, no country, no representation issue? Are the sour faced little Englanders going to be ignored again or is this issue going to be addressed?

In a recent poll (see here) nearly 70% of those polled wanted an English Parliament.

Dear Dave and Thingy.

The English Elephant is still here.

(Hat tip to Waking Hereward blog for the original report. see here)

An English Apology

Billothewisp wishes to offer is his humble gratitude to the sumptuous and magnificent leaders of our great democracy in whom we all so trust. He further wishes to say sorry. But first he needs to explain the need for this apology, particularly to the Leader of the Opposition.

Yesterday evening Billothewisp was reading assorted blogs when he came across some scurrilous CEP posters on this site. If you look you will see that they rather naughtily display statements made by the Grand Etonian and Leader-In-Waiting concerning an English Parliament. Billothewisp was somewhat non-nonplussed and could barely believe what he was reading. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief and dispaired about the direction and guidance of the Divine Leader-in-waiting, David Cameron.

To a simple and loyal Englishman such as Billothewisp, such statements show a rather alarming remoteness and aloofness from the English people. Is this Posh and extremely well fed leader merely cynically exploiting the English voters so he can pose in his kilt and brandish his Scottish ancestry to one and all? Is he, then, just a mirror image of that other Grand and Illustrious Scottish leader he wishes to replace? Worse though, is he really so adamant about standing against any possibility of democracy in England? Does he not realise the unfairness of the current situation?

Yesterday, before seeing these posters Billothewisp was considerably less likely to vote for Gordon Brown than a dead dog. But today, if the Labour party sprung up with a legitimate policy on English devolution they would gain my attention. (although luckily for the supremo-to-come, I trust the Labour party no further than I could throw John Prescott).

English people are fair and patient. But the unfairness that has been foisted upon them is beginning to rankle. Billothewisp hears many mumblings and grumblings from other members of the downcast and dirty. Today, I can assure the great Etonian that political opinions are moving among the hoards of minions.

Billothewisp doffs his cap to the great Etonian and born-to-rule future leader. He further humbly apologises for bringing up the distasteful subject of an English Parliament. But the great and the good need to be made aware of the fact there are times when you need to progress beyond the status-quo.

It is now time to move on. Otherwise, in five or ten years the plebs and serfs of England may well extract a reckoning from the political parties that deny them fair play. Worse still, there are also people and parties with ugly policies all too willing to exploit a genuine and aggravated grievance.

We expect our leaders to support fairness and democratic aspirations. We do not expect them to show a dictatorial denial of basic rights for the English, irrespective of how grubby and lower class these English serfs may be.

Education and Elitism

I have some worries about David Cameron's latest comments on the future of the teaching profession ( see here ) and how he wants to make it “Brazenly Elitist”. While I have no concerns about the concept of ensuring teachers are capable, trained and fit to manage the challenges of today's schools, I do believe that the heavy emphasis on selecting future teachers by academic qualification alone, is a blind alley.

Let me take you back 40 years to my school days in a Secondary Modern school. This was a school in the middle of a large council estate and was generally regarded as a pretty tough example of its genre. With a few exceptions the teachers were qualified with the old Certificate in Education. This was the standard route into teaching in those days.

A large proportion of the teachers at my school had spent their late teens and early twenties dodging bullets and torpedoes during WW2. They were an inspirational group of individuals. I regard the education I received at my Secondary Modern school as absolutely one of the best available. I have never had any regrets about failing the Eleven plus.

There were neglected areas on the syllabus, foreign languages for example. But really, the teaching staff did extremely well. They made the school the success it was.

The school though, had no truck with any fanciful child centric nonsense that did so much damage in the 70's and 80's. For its day, and its type, it had high expectations of its pupils. All pupils irrespective of their various abilities and limitations were driven forward academically, socially, practically and on the sports field. The motivators were the same non-degree teachers who David Cameron would now bar from teaching in our schools.

I appreciate that a teacher must know their subject. But a charismatic teacher who can cover the syllabus, and motivate their pupils, is far more capable than an academic high flyer lacking world experience and social skills.

I would actually like to take things the other way. I would like to see people with real world skills and experience, but not necessarily high academic qualifications, being allowed to train and teach. Of course these would have to be charismatic and outstanding individuals. Like the teachers I was privileged to have.

Tell me. Who would be more likely to gain the instant respect of a class of 15 years olds in an inner city school. An introverted, intellectual new graduate, who had gone straight back into the education machine without ever doing anything else. Or a far less academic but proficient ex Sargent-Major (or plumber, carpenter, nurse or Lab technician for that matter).

Later on, I went on to University. Honestly, the standard of the tuition I received there was appallingly inferior to that in my old Secondary Modern. The disinterested and uncharismatic individuals whose dull rote rendition I endured at Uni were all highly qualified. David Cameron would no doubt, regard them as highly eligible candidates for the teaching profession today (although in my old school they would have lasted about 5 minutes).

We need to get a grip on what we want for our kids. Most will never be academics. They need the skills all sectors of our community can impart not just an academic elite.

I'll repeat one of my arguments.

Who is the best teacher?

The charismatic 35 year old working man with a good knowledge of his subject and extensive life experience.

or a remote young inexperienced intellectual who cannot relate to his pupils?