Archive for February, 2009
The retreat of British liberalism?
Posted by James Gubb in Civil Liberty on 18/02/2009
The exclusion of the Dutch MP, Geert Wilders, from the UK has provoked a number of thought-provoking pieces, particularly in the Economist and the FT. His ideas, I hasten to add, attract absolutely zero sympathy from me – his views are extremist themselves and guilty, in particular, of distorting debate by portraying the most reactionary interpretations of Islam as being typical, when they are not – but, just as rules have now been passed against ‘incitement to violence’ etc., does the decision to exclude him not represent an unwillingness on the part of the political elite to defend civil liberty? What happened to the liberal idea of ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it’?
Elegy for Our Public Libraries
Posted by David Conway in Education on 17/02/2009
Last week, Merseyside’s Wirral Council announced the planned closure of almost a half of its 24 public libraries. Many other local authorities are soon likely to follow suit as they seek to reduce public spending in wake of the country’s current economic down-turn.
Where regret is due
Posted by Anastasia de Waal in Education on 13/02/2009
Professor Adrian Smith, a civil servant who is currently director general of science and research, has found himself in hot water – ostensibly for expressing his true assessment of the new Diploma courses.
SHAs: taking up the ‘Stalinist’ mantra?
Posted by James Gubb in Health on 12/02/2009
Today, the HSJ reports on the departure of two chief executives recently deposed of their positions at two of London’s biggest trusts – Barts and the London, and West Middlesex University. Here are some of the quotes from its sources:
Sheffield’s Sorry School Saga
Posted by Claire Daley in Education on 10/02/2009
The recently appointed head of a primary school in Sheffield has just tendered her resignation after unsuccessfully seeking to end the separate weekly assemblies for its thirty odd Muslim pupils she found on arrival being organised there. She sought to end them in the belief they were divisive. Instead, her attempt to do so raised a firestorm of protests from angry Muslim parents who accused her of racism.
A crowded marriage
Posted by David Conway in European Union on 09/02/2009
If last weeks’ British wildcat strikes were redolent of protectionism, comments evoking similar feelings made by the French President have proved inflammatory to Prague, writes Lara Natale. Czech Prime Minister/incumbent EU President Mirek Topolánek has suggested that they may even end up contributing to the Czech Republic’s existing disinclination to ratify the Lisbon Treaty.