Skills:Coalition skills plans
Friday, July 9th, 2010Reversing the over-importance placed on higher education is emerging as the coalition’s main theme as it gears its skills policy around the economic recovery. Skills policy is a devolved matter except for some UK-wide bodies. When UK ministers use the word national, it therefore usually means English. To be truly national, an idea needs to be suggested by the UK Government and accepted by the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland administrations. During the election campaign William Hague said the Tories had learned from Reg Empey’s experience in government while they were in opposition. Within...[full story]
Public Affairs:Northern Ireland Office
Friday, July 9th, 2010Created in 1972 as Stormont’s powers were taken away, the Northern Ireland Office was the mainstay of provincial business in government for nearly 30 years. Now presided over by Conservative Owen Paterson, the NIO was tasked with running the Northern Ireland departments under direct rule. The criminal justice brief made the journey across the Irish Sea on 12 April to the newly established Department of Justice. In the absence of those powers, its stated mission is now two-fold: to support devolution and to make sure that UK-wide policy takes account of all circumstances in Northern...[full story]
Politics:Life after Labour
Friday, June 4th, 2010John O’Farrell reviews the record and recalls an old but perhaps relevant socialist critique. How will Labour deal with opposition? The best way of attending to that question is to ask another: How did Labour deal with government? The next generation of Labour’s leaders will have to honestly address the successes and failures of their 13 years – and then to address the things they did not do but should have done. An audit can be carried out, balancing the good and the bad. Non-violent crime decreased, wealth increased, more people are healthier and better educated, legal and social...[full story]
Westminister:Parliamentary memories
Friday, June 4th, 2010Outgoing Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Chairman Sir Patrick Cormack ponders 40 years of work in the House. I entered the House on the same day as Ian Paisley and I well remember sitting in front of him when he made his maiden speech. No one could fail to be impressed by his forceful eloquence and his mischievous smile, and over the years we became good friends. On the eve of direct rule, in March 1972, our younger son was baptised in the Chapel in the Palace. During the course of the afternoon politicians from Northern Ireland were scurrying hither and dither, and both Dr Paisley...[full story]
Public Affairs:Hillsborough’s new tenant
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010The first Conservative Secretary of State since Sir Patrick Mayhew, Owen Paterson has said he will remain pro-union in the post but will work with all parties in the province. Always the likely choice to succeed Shaun Woodward, the former shadow Owen Paterson was selected as Northern Ireland Secretary as the full details of the Liberal- Conservative coalition were made public. Paterson faced down any speculation that the position would be one afforded to either the Lib Dems’ Alistair Carmichael or a consolation prize for senior Tories who had lost out on other cabinet posts. The Cambridge...[full story]
Public Affairs:Cameron on tour
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010The new Prime Minister moves from election rhetoric to decisions on the deficit between his two visits to the province. Two visits in as many weeks from David Cameron will likely not continue throughout his premiership but a interest in to the Northern Ireland cause cannot be in doubt. In spite of a bout of volcanic ash on 4 May, the then-Leader of the Opposition made the trip to La Mon House hotel to speak to gathered supporters. Cameron’s sights were still very much on forming a Conservative-only government. That, though, would not come to pass. agendaNi pressed him on his manifesto...[full story]
2010 general election:Labour’s life and times
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010Following defeat at the polls, now is a good time to take stock of the history of the New Labour movement and to address where the party might go in the future, writes Phil Ramsey. The history of New Labour, and 13 years of government can best be summed up in one word: compromise. Historically highly funded public services came at the expense of unfettered markets and light-touch regulation of banks, leading to the most spectacular financial crash of last eighty years. The success of political reform through devolution to the nations and regions, leading to government and executives...[full story]
