Has a school subject ever been so badly let down by the government? Reading the latest data review into the subject, you could make a pretty good case for that subject being RE. GCSE entries up by a third in a decade. A 50 per cent percentage increase in A-level entries since 2003 – beating…
While there has been some appreciation of the difficulties caused by the Protocol that the EU has seen fit to impose upon Northern Ireland as part of Brexit, the extent of the difficulties has been, and continues to be, massively under-estimated. One clear example of this tendency is provided by the Sub Committee on the…
Nearly 2,500 years ago the Greek politician and general Pericles said: “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you” and in my time as a politician I have learnt that, alas, there is virtually nothing that escapes politics and regulation. This is now the…
Offshoring migrants to Rwanda is yet another example of the government’s immoral and ineffective anti-refugee strategy. According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 52 people have drowned in the English Channel between 2018 and 2021. Over 28,000 people were smuggled across the Channel last year, and a further 3,000 have arrived in the…
I do not need to argue that my constituency is the most beautiful in the country, because that claim is self-evident. The Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales are two astonishingly breathtaking national parks. But the stunning views distract from a harsh reality. Our meres, tarns, rivers, and lakes are being choked and polluted –…
Ahead of the Spring Statement next week, surging energy bills, talk of fracking and Government hesitancy on action to reach net-zero should rightfully make us nervous. What we need is a clear UK-wide commitment to lower energy bills by improving energy efficiency in homes and businesses, delivered through a devolved Shared Prosperity Fund. Households and…
Starting a family for any couple is an exciting new adventure, but for LGBTQI+ couples it is a hugely costly process, both financially and emotionally. Dubbed the LGBTQI+ fertility tax, it is significantly harder for a lesbian, bi-women or some trans people in a same-sex relationship to access NHS fertility treatment even though they are…
What sort of society do we want to live in? This is the question we should always return to when it comes to education policy. Freedom of speech, respect for the beliefs of others, the spirit of debate – these have long been pillars of British society. Teach these values explicitly in our schools and from the outset…
