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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 STEVEN BERKOFF: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW JON CRAIG ASSESSES THE CONFERENCE SEASON POLITICS WILLIAM HAGUE ON THE CHALLENGES TO BRITAIN MARY CREAGH DEFENDS THE HUNTING ACT ED DAVEY ON THE GREEN DEAL FIRSTJIM MURPHY ASSESSES BRITISH MILTARY CAPABILITIES LIAM FOX ON REPAIRING THE UK ECONOMY

VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 8 £3.99 www.politicsfirst.org.uk

LIFTING THE CLOUD OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE IaIn Duncan Smith, NICK HURD, HELEN NEWLOVE, VICTOR ADEBOWALE, HERMAN STEWART & CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP

INSIDE:DAVID CAMERON, NICK CLEGG & ED MILIBAND

CONTENTS

6 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: 14 COLUMNS: 22 CORRIDORS: 58 SPECIAL SECTION: STEVEN BERKOFF Jon Craig and Paul Routledge William Hague and COMMONWEALTH on what the conference season Marcus Papadopoulos talks Douglas Alexander discuss the Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Ruth Lea and might have in store for the party to Hollywood actor Steven challenges to British foreign policy Ozwald Boateng Berkoff about his efforts to leaders stop the sale of foie gras in Liam Fox argues that the British retail outlets and restaurants 16 SPOTLIGHT: LIFTING economy can only be repaired at in the UK THE CLOUD OF SOCIAL home 74 DIARY PAGE: INJUSTICE Nigel Nelson 10 LEADERS: Iain Duncan Smith, Nick Hurd, Ed Davey makes the case for the Helen Newlove, Victor Adebow- David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Green Deal ale, Herman Stewart and Child Ed Miliband set out their vision for Poverty Action Group Britain

Editorial Board: ISSN 2046-4258 Esther McVey Company number: 7965752 POLITICS Lionel Zetter Editorial, Advertising and Subscriptions Darryl Howe Working together with: FIRST Paul Routledge Tel: 0797 237 4529 John Bretherton Harold Atcherley Published by: First Publishing Limited Publisher & Editor: Production Consultant: Kemp House Marcus Papadopoulos Gemma Pritchard 152 City Road London Features Assistant: EC1V 2NX Editorial Advisor: Alex Donald Keith Richmond Email: Printed in the UK by Cover image: The Magazine Printing Company Christopher Pullinger [email protected] www.politicsfirst.org.uk using only paper from FSC/PEFC suppliers Finance Director: www.magprint.co.uk Senel Mehmet © First Publishing Limited The views expressed in Politics First are not necessarily those of First Publishing Limited and its directors. www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 3 BRIAN DAVIES - FOUND ER GET ORFF OUR BADGERS DAVE

As violence associated with some groups escalated in the 90’s, PAL chose political intervention as the vehicle to help animals and it works.

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Welcome to the autumn party conference edition of Politics First! An extended edition focusing on key issues facing Britain at home and abroad, and with thought- provoking articles on areas currently not being given sufficient attention by the British national press. Given the UK economy’s global standing – seventh largest in the world and third largest in Europe – the levels of inequality in many communities across Britain are BRIAN DAVIES - FOUND ER shockingly high. From child poverty to unemployment to drug and alcohol abuse to domestic abuse, Britain has a cancer, and that cancer is social injustice. Indeed, according to the Department for Work and Pensions, 3.6 million children in the UK reside in poverty – this is more than one in four British children. So how can the cloud of social injustice, which blights the lives of so many people in Britain today, be lifted? The government recently published its “Social Justice Strategy” which aims to understand social injustice more and thereby get to the roots of the problem, to tackle it more effectively. To add to that debate, Politics First invited Iain Duncan Smith, Nick Hurd, Helen Newlove, Victor Adebowale, Herman Stewart and Child Poverty Action Group to GET ORFF OUR POLITICSdiscuss how to improve the life chances of the disadvantaged in the UK. Two years into their jobs – and three years away from the general election – David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband explain how they intend to take Britain forward and release it from the economic woes that are shackling its future. Steven Berkoff, Hollywood actor and playwright and director, talks exclusively about the horror behind the ‘delicacy’ foie gras and his efforts to get it removed from the shelves and menus of all retailers and restaurants BADGERS DAVE in the UK. With the world becoming a rapidly changing place, William Hague discusses the challenges to British foreign policy while Jim Murphy assesses the combat-readiness of the British armed forces. Paul Burstow details how the government is prioritising mental health care while Malcolm Rifkind looks at the potential of the Commonwealth. And Caroline Flint assesses whether the Green Deal is a good deal or not. FIRST To Politics First’s usual audience, and delegates attending Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham, I hope you enjoy both your time at conference and this edition. Dr Marcus Papadopoulos, Publisher/Editor WELCOME

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www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 5 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: STEVEN BERKOFF

The horror behind foie gras

Steven Berkoff, Hollywood actor and playwright and director, talks to Marcus Papadopoulos about the cruelty behind the ‘delicacy’ of foie gras and why the UK should act quickly to ban the sale and import of this “torture in a tin”

ritain has historically set a shining that on the shelves and menus of a minority then killed and their livers cut out and sold example to the rest of the world of retailers and restaurants in Britain, such as foie gras. in pushing for animals to be re- as Fortnum & Mason and Harrods, is an garded as sentient beings and not item of food whose production constitutes The pain that ducks and geese experience Bmerely as commodities. one of the most shocking forms of animal on foie gras farms is unspeakable. Investiga- cruelty in the world today: foie gras. tions carried out by People for the Ethical In 1822, Britain was the first country in Treatment of Animals found terrified birds the world to introduce an animal welfare Foie gras is originally a French pate barely able to move, had tumour-like lumps law and since then numerous other pieces which is made from the enlarged livers of in their throats with the rest of their bodies of legislation have been passed which have ducks and geese through force-feeding. covered in maggots and had severe damage enhanced the overall protection of animals This ‘delicacy’ is overwhelmingly produced to their throat muscles. Undercover footage in the country, in particular the Hunting in France. The birds, which are often kept obtained by PETA is extremely distress- Act 2004 and the Animal Welfare Act 2007. in semi-darkness in crammed cages or ing and shocking even to seasoned animal From companion animals to wild animals small pens without adequate water, are welfare investigators. to farmed animals to performing animals, force-fed several times a day for up to 21 Britain stands as a beacon of hope for the days consecutively by a funnel straight into Force-feeding of animals is banned in 15 animal kingdom and is one of its most their oesophagus. The funnel is pushed five countries, including Britain, Germany, Italy fervent protectors, putting it in line with the inches down the birds’ throats with up to and Israel. However, importing foie gras famous quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “The four pounds of grain and fat being pumped and selling it is still legal in those countries greatness of a nation and its moral progress into their stomachs. As a result of the force- (the state of California, however, this year can be judged by the way in which its ani- feeding, the livers of the birds grow by up to set a historic precedent by banning the sale mals are treated.” It is surprising, therefore, ten times their normal size. The birds are of foie gras in retail shops and restaurants).

6 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: STEVEN BERKOFF

In Britain, a country whose population is known for its compassion towards animals, PETA is spearheading a campaign for foie gras to be banned from shops and restaurants. And leading that campaign is the renowned and acclaimed English actor, playwright and director, Steven Berkoff.

Steven, famous for his roles in the Hollywood films Octopussy, Beverley Hills Cop, Rambo: First Blood Part II and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and for his long-standing involvement in theatre such as his acclaimed solo play Shakespeare’s Villains and his current play 6 Actors in Search of a Director, which he has written and directed, has long campaigned to eradicate all forms of cruelty to animals.

In this exclusive interview, Steven states why he is opposed to foie gras, how he is

raising awareness of this issue, his attitude to people who consume and sell foie gras

and the other animal issues which he campaigns on behalf of. Q Why are you opposed to foie gras? “

A I am opposed to any form of animal volved with PETA for about five years now. cruelty perpetuated for gourmandising. In fact, I am opposed to animal cruelty even Q What has been the response from to satisfy our needs but this is inevitable, People who do not family, friends and colleagues to your

unfortunately, given battery farming and efforts? the intensive use of all sorts of appalling object to animal

practices like hormone fattening of calves A The response from people who are and cows. cruelty do not aware of the cruelty behind foie gras, or “ what I call “torture in a tin”, has been Those are just some of the terrible inflic- function in the 100 per cent supportive. And I am not tions human beings have perpetrated on surprised by that because 99 per cent of the animal kingdom on the slim justifica- totality of human the human race has empathy for any living tion to survive. However, gourmandising being which is abused or inflicted with is an atrocious form of cruelty to satisfy a consciousness pain under any circumstances. However, jaded palate. So that is why I am against there is that one per cent of people who foie gras. are, unfortunately, lacking in that gene of empathy. Q What have you done to help raise awareness about the issue? animals just so that humans can have more Q Why are you boycotting Fortnum & time on this planet. Quite simply, I am Mason specifically? A I make comments which are sometimes outraged by the using and abusing of the printed in the press and take part in PETA animal kingdom. A I am not boycotting Fortnum & Mason campaigns including against Fortnum & per se. I think Fortnum & Mason is an Mason, where we once demonstrated to Q How did you first become involved in amazing establishment which I have been the press outside the London shop, the PETA’s campaign to highlight the cruelty using for over half a century and a great ghastly feeding tubes used to enlarge the involved in the production of foie gras? credit to London café society but they livers of ducks and geese. would be far more respected if they would A It all began when PETA got in contact delete from their stock this most unpalat- Furthermore, I have written articles with me as a result of a letter which I had able item. condemning experiments on animals for written to The Timesabout some form of the furtherance and development of better animal cruelty. They asked me if I would Q What words do you have for people medicines for the human race. I consider help with their campaigns and I was only who consume foie gras, and also the it appalling to inflict pain and suffering on too delighted to do so. I have been in- retailers and restaurants who still cur-

8 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: STEVEN BERKOFF

rently sell it? that filthy “crime zone” but there are still one or two left, and Fortnum & Mason A The people who consume foie gras are should not be proud of themselves. usually highly intelligent but seem to lack a gene of compassion. They are mostly Q Prestigious events, like the BAFTAs, uninformed and are so obsessed with and prominent department stores, such satisfying their peculiar needs and tastes as Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, have that they do not question how these tastes already removed foie gras from their

and flavours are produced. So they are menus and food halls. Do you believe wilfully ignorant about the suffering that is the days of foie gras are numbered?

caused to satisfy their palates; regrettably, what we suffer from in this world is a total A I believe its end is very near. The more unawareness of what goes into the creation you campaign, the more pressure is put “ of our everyday products and we must be on outlets to stop selling it. However, leg- made aware of it. islation should also be passed to ban the import and sale of this “torture in a tin”.

The question, therefore, is how do we inform these people? People are very Q Can you detail the other animal issues

susceptible to information and this is which you campaign on. what one has to do. Unfortunately, the Society should older people get the more difficult it is to A For the benefits that we have achieved “ convince them. with animal testing, the suffering that has revere, protect been perpetrated on millions of innocent Regarding retailers and restaurants who creatures should be a cause of immense and admire the sell foie gras, they think they are doing the concern. best for customers who would, incidental- living creature ly, commit any pain, any suffering to enjoy To me, anyone involved in animal one more mouthful of a gourmandising testing belongs to the “crime zone”. It is a type of delicacy. Unfortunately, our French sin. To argue that it is done to save human cousins, generally speaking, seem to be lives is rather irrelevant given that animals Steven Berkoff one of the worst offenders. Regrettably are tortured to death for it. The genius if many people in France seem to perceive the medical profession is such that they animals as only there to serve us. But we are sure to find other ways to test products in Britain should be more aware of how which are far more ethical than cutting Born on 3 August shocking it is that Fortnum & Mason, for open the brain of a live monkey. 1937, Stepney, example, sell a product which is morally London, England; dubious. I find it unpalatable the need of women to wear fur. When you see furs in a shop, The fact that Fortnum & Mason align such as Harrods, you do not think that Hollywood actor, themselves with this unspeakable cruelty an animal was once in this and that it was playwright and is part of the general commercialisation skinned to death for it. The prime cause director; of everything in our society and I am of cruelty is the separation of the product sure that with decent and honest persua- from its source. I wish those women who Films include sion they would be induced to drop this wear furs would take an example from Octopussy, Beverley product. people like Stella McCartney who will never use fur in any of her fashion and Hills Cop, Rambo: Fortnum & Mason are in what we call because of this is far more inventive and First Blood Part II the “crime zone” in which people will inspiring and The Girl with sacrifice animals for a peculiar hunger. the Dragon Tattoo; People like that have no empathy. And Society should revere, protect and China is, of course, another major of- admire the living creature, rather than it’s Theatre work fender. Thirty-nine million sharks are dead coat being worn by grossly overpaid needlessly slaughtered every year for some models. includes Sink peculiar taste of fin soup in China. China the Belgrano!, is also the leading market for the peculiar People who do not object to animal Shakespeare’s need for ivory. It is absolutely disgusting. cruelty do not function in the totality of hu- Villains and 6 So it is not just Fortnum & Mason we are man consciousness. Human beings are not Actors in Search of a up against; we need to be campaigning dumb and with the proper information and Director. worldwide. access to images, be it still photography or video of the cruelty inflicted, will I am sure We, in the West, are gradually leaving be persuaded to change their attitudes.

www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 9 PARTY LEADERS: Taking tough decisions now to safeguard Britain’s future Prime Minister David Cameron

he coalition I lead was born cent of GDP; in just two years we have been dodged for so long. But we are

in a climate of urgency and cut it by one quarter. Put simply, we refusing to take the easy way out now if it determination; and it continues are safeguarding Britain against the means consigning Britain to decline later.

in that spirit. We are engaged in economic storms on our door-step. That’s

nothing less than an all-out fight to turn why, however tough deficit reduction is There’s an equally tough fight to T “ our country around. in the short-term, we are sticking to the bring opportunity to everyone in our

course. society. It is a scandal that millions have Why do I call it an all-out fight? Because been denied the chance to get on in life, the pressure on Britain today comes from “ betrayed by failing schools and a benefits two directions. There are the home- system that left them trapped in state grown problems: the eye-watering debt; We are at a dependency for years on end. Spraying the deep imbalances in our economy; pivotal moment in money at these problems isn’t the the numbers out of work. And there is answer. We need bold, long-term reform the global context: the economic tumult our history and that’s what we’re undertaking, from and uncertainty; the Eurozone in crisis; a free schools revolution that is allowing the great shifts in wealth and influence parents, teachers and charities to set up from West to East. This is a world where We’re showing the same resolve to turn their own schools, to the new Universal the value of China’s exports has increased our economy around. Britain’s prosperity Credit that’s going to ensure it makes one hundred-fold over the past three was balanced on a few teetering, financial sense for people to choose work decades; where the global middle class precarious pillars: unsustainable public over welfare. is expanding at extraordinary speed; spending, a housing boom, a finance where there are countless opportunities boom, an immigration boom. We see So this is the thread running through for those countries agile and dynamic where we need to go from here – an this coalition: time after time we have enough to grab them. economy where we’re innovating, making chosen to do what is right for the long- new products and exporting them to term, whether that’s raising the pension Take both the domestic and the world; one built on manufacturing, age so we can afford a proper state international pictures together and you advanced technology, genuine, high-level pension, reforming state pensions to see that we are at a pivotal moment in our skills. cut their long-term cost right down, or history. We can flinch from the challenges eradicating the huge hole in the defence ahead, let our array of weaknesses fester Clearly, a turnaround like this can’t be budget so we can keep our armed forces and resign ourselves to decline. Or we achieved in a matter of months. It takes properly sustained and our nation secure. can vow to get a grip on our problems – pain-staking, persistent work – and the however difficult that may be in the short- guts to make unpopular but necessary With all these reforms and changes, we term – and do whatever it takes to equip decisions. Cutting regulation is tough can’t expect an overnight transformation our country for long-term success. Look when you have every interest group lined of our country. We’re dealing with some at everything this coalition is doing and up to predict the damage you’re going deeply entrenched problems in a time of you’ll see we’ve chosen the right path. to do. unparalleled economic uncertainty. We are confronting our national problems head-on, regardless of the short-term fall- Reforming the planning system is hard But as we have started in this Coalition, out or political headaches that may cause. when people say you’re concreting over so we will go on: taking tough decisions the countryside. Making our pensions where we need to; challenging vested Against fierce opposition we’ve made system more affordable is guaranteed to interests wherever necessary; believing significant cuts to public spending – and meet a wave of attacks from the unions. that Britain can have a confident and we’re making progress. When we came My point is that all these decisions win competitive future; and in everything we to office the deficit stood at over 11 per you enemies – and that’s why they’ve do – putting the national interest first.

10 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk We hope that the next election will demonstrate real people power, with voters making decisions based on the actions of those currently elected. The BFAWU will remind its members of the decisions that this government has made since 2010. We will ensure that voters are aware that they had intended to place a burden on ordinary peoples’ eating habits to fund tax cuts for millionaires. We will ask our members in the baking industry, living in the constituencies of MPs that supported the introduction of the ‘Pasty Tax’ to remind the public of the damaging reper- cussions created by ill thought out policies. The government eventually performed a U-turn, but if either of the current governing parties were to be elected, could they be trusted NOT to bring the policy back?

The BFAWU believes that the constant attack on working people should stop. Workers should be valued with their rights enshrined in law. We will ask those making decisions to take responsibility. Should an MP vote for cuts in health and safety that lead to workplace deaths, we believe it is only right and fair for that MP to face charges of complicity. Governments talk about people taking responsibility and we agree. We believe in accountability for ill thought out policies with criminal charges where they are voted through based on ideology and donations, rather than having considered the consequences involved to those they directly affect. The current make up of the House of Commons is out of touch with the electorate. We need to ensure that the voices of real people are heard above lobbyists and the select few with vested interests. This is why the BFAWU is actively encouraging members to get involved politically and ensure that they only support MPs that represent and value ordinary people.

GK_A5_editorial_Marcus_print.pdf 1 24/08/2012 10:43

CMY

K PARTY LEADERS: Heads held high looking onwards

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg

’m sure in years to come we’ll look Autumn. Youth Contract is giving every jobless back at the summer of 2012 with very youngster the chance to earn or learn; fond memories, indeed. It started with And just as the Liberal Democrats are our £2.4 billion Regional Growth Fund a bang: an extra long bank holiday in galvanised around economic reform, is helping businesses in areas previously

IJune to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond we are also determined to deliver social over-dependent on the public sector; Jubilee. That was quickly followed by renewal. We don’t just want Britain to and we have created a record number of

weeks of breathtaking sporting action emerge from our troubles with a stronger apprenticeships, too. during the Olympic and Paralympic economy. Our vision is for a fairer, more Games. The golden performance of “open society, where people who work The second is the environment - our athletes and the contribution of hard can get ahead. because greening our economy and thousands of volunteers made for the conserving precious resources is the

best Olympics in living memory. Not least through the tax system. The route to lasting prosperity. Later this year, the Green Deal will start to begin

As we move into the Autumn, the By the time we are saving people money on their energy question is: how do we retain that sense bills, cutting carbon emissions, and it of optimism? Recent months have been finished, no one “ will create thousands of green jobs. Our a welcome reminder that Britain is an will pay tax on the Green Investment Bank - a global first open nation, filled with great talent and - will also help Britain become a world ability. With the country continuing to first £10,000 leader in green technology and unlock face serious challenges - not least in they earn £18 billion of investment. our economy - we must draw on those characteristics to propel ourselves onto The third is education. That’s why, more prosperous times. slogan for our Conference in Brighton this even with money as tight as it is, we have year is “fairer tax in tough times.” The committed an extra £2.5bn for our Pupil That mission – rescuing, repairing, and Liberal Democrats set out - on the front Premium (also on the front page of our reforming our economy - is what brought page of our manifesto - our commitment manifesto) to stop struggling children the Coalition together. It’s why the Liberal to cutting taxes for ordinary people. from falling behind and help the whole Democrats entered Government with We have done so in every Budget while class move ahead. And we’re extending the Conservatives and it remains our we’ve been in Government. By April next free child care for disadvantaged two- priority. Before the election, there were year, we will have lifted two million of year-olds - providing support in the early varying degrees of hysteria surrounding the lowest paid out of paying Income years when children need it most. the prospect of a hung Parliament. Yet we Tax altogether and we will have put £550 have confounded the naysayers, proving back in the pocket of over twenty million If you were to choose the that Coalitions can provide stable and basic rate tax payers. And we’re not done circumstances in which to come into decisive government and we’ve taken the yet – by the time we are finished, no one Government for the first time in 70 years, difficult but necessary decisions to get the will pay tax on the first £10,000 they earn. you would not choose these. Britain faces public finances in order. In the longer term, it is our party policy an unparalleled set of challenges. But, that no one should pay tax until they are halfway in, and the Liberal Democrats Of course, deficit reduction is only a earning above the minimum wage. have proven ourselves to be a competent means to an end - and the end we all seek and capable party of government. We is growth. The situation around us has Alongside tax, there are three other are proud of our record, and during our deteriorated in light of continuing turmoil big areas the party will be focusing Conference we will be holding our heads in the Eurozone. But that is only steeling on during our Conference.The first, of high. And, even more importantly, we’ll our resolve - driving a renewed focus on course, is jobs. It’s our priority because be looking to the future, too. measures to help jobs throughout the it’s the country’s priority. Our £1 billion

12 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk Laying the ground for real change

Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband

am hugely proud of what Labour did in the political system, we must show people that it always reflects the interests and office. But having been in office for 13 who we stand up for and we know we must values of the British people. That is why we

years, the British public lost faith in who change the economy. need more change not less in our party to we stood up for. They thought that we reach out much further and much deeper hadI lost touch. “ Knocking on doors in my own into every community in Britain.

constituency ever since I became an MP, I I am determined that we drive forward am struck by who is more likely to engage in We know that there is more work to do

with changes in the Labour Party so people politics and who is not. to ensure that Labour in every part of the understand that we will stand up for all of country understands the community it them and stand up to the powerful vested “ seeks to serve. I saw that in Bradford West interests; that we can make the economy I want to make where we lost the by-election badly. We work for all working people, not just a few at have begun a programme to select more the top; that we are a party which reaches 2015 a change candidates from more diverse backgrounds into communities, not one that just talks election and we are knocking on doors we have not to itself; and that we keep the promises we knocked on for years. make. If you have a family, you may well think the health service, schools, local services, I want to make 2015 a change election, The character of our party means we will be better if Labour is in power. But if and set a target of making voter turnout the must always put the national interest above you do not spend time using those services, highest since 1997 - the last change election the interest of a small, powerful elite. We if you do not have kids, and you are simply in this country. must do that even when it is difficult. We struggling to get by in an economy where were criticised when we said publicly- your wages are low, you are more likely to Finally, if we are going to change things, owned banks should not be handing out big think, it is the same whoever is in power. we must show that we are different from bonuses at a time when millions of families what people expect from politicians. are struggling to get by. Why is that? It reflects what people feel: This government came into office government has little influence on the kind with the benefit of the doubt but it has The Tories said that was anti-business. of economy we have, that globalisation catastrophically forfeited that with broken It was not - it was pro-business. It was has left us powerless in the face of means promises on everything from child benefit to standing up for the small businesses that and we are powerless in the face of tuition fees. They are not the first politicians cannot get a loan from the banks giving irresponsibility at the top. to lose trust. We did, too, including over Iraq. themselves big bonuses. It was the right thing to do. Instead, I believe an active government The Conservative-led government’s can create a better economy for working broken promises hurt people across the It is the same with the big electricity people in Britain, with good jobs, good country, and they also damage respect for companies or the train firms. They will not wages and good training; where we can all politics. like being challenged but in these tough get support to businesses with bright ideas times, people need to know politics can even when their banks are refusing to lend; We will only make promises we can keep, be on their side. We must put our values sustained by a proper plan for growth and which means realistic promises shaped by alongside people’s interests. jobs rather than just tax cuts for the super- big ideals for a better way of living together rich; that does not suck all of our greatest so that together we can build a country not We must lead the way in standing up talent away from making things and delivery ridden by class, wealth and income but a for consumers, citizens, small businesses of services into the financial sector. country where the economy works for all against unaccountable concentrations working people, not just a few at the top of private and public power. If we are to The character of our party must be one and a country where we show politics can reach out to people who have lost faith in that says we can change our economy so improve people’s lives. www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 13 COLUMNS:

JON CRAIG A blonde will Eye in the Sky turn heads this conference season

he Tory faithful at the Besides the adulation for Boris, Yes, supporters of David Miliband Conservative Party Conference now seen by growing numbers still carp. But the Labour leader, T have always loved a glamorous of Tory MPs as a proven winner after a rocky start, is now much blonde: Margaret Thatcher, Michael and – despite his buffoonery – a more sure-footed and is even Heseltine and now, of course, Boris serious rival to Mr Cameron, the beginning to acquire that crucial Johnson. Tory leadership will have to contend ingredient for political success: luck. with increasingly mutinous MPs and But this year, after his re-election Louise Mensch’s shock activists on a whole range of issues. as London Mayor, the slump in resignation from the Commons has support for David Cameron and an But overriding all those handed Mr Miliband and Labour Olympic Games that were a personal contentious issues is the “ditch the the mouth-watering prospect of a triumph for the Mayor and not Coalition” campaign which has been crushing by-election win over the the Prime Minister, Boris will be rapidly gathering support since the Tories in the autumn in the heart of the undisputed darling of the Tory bruising clash between Conservative middle England. conference as never before. and LibDem MPs on House of Lords A by-election win that will boost Mr reform this July. Many of those Conservative MPs Miliband personally and increase the who already saw Boris as the king Nick Clegg had hoped to go to his pressure on Mr Cameron’s leadership over the water now believe he could conference in Brighton this year with of the Conservative Party. sail down the Thames from City Hall some better news to report on Lords So Labour will use their to Westminster when he chooses reform, after Mr Cameron promised conference as a springboard for that to to seize the Tory crown from the “one more try” when he addressed by-election and police commissioner increasingly unpopular Mr Cameron. Tory MPs at the 1922 Committee elections this November, as well as before Parliament broke up for the Predictably, midway through turning up the heat on the Prime summer. a Parliament which the Coalition Minister and the Chancellor on partners have decreed will be for I was sceptical about that when Britain’s faltering economy and a fixed term of five years, it’s the he said it, believing his chances of the continuing threat of recession. leaders of the Conservative and persuading rebel Tory MPs to back Expect to hear a lot from Ed Balls Liberal Democrat parties who down were on a par with Nadine about “Plan B”. will be anticipating their party Dorries nominating George Osborne A few weeks back, some bookies conference with trepidation and the for the Tory leadership. were offering odds on Boris Johnson Labour leader who will head for his As a result, Mr Clegg will be being selected as the Conservative conference with some optimism. confronted by his own “ditch the candidate in Mrs Mensch’s Corby But many Tory and LibDem MPs Coalition” brigade in Brighton. And and East Northamptonshire will feel many of the problems facing even Danny Alexander, a Coalition constituency. Mr Cameron and Nick Clegg, the loyalist, is – we’re told – poised to He’s probably the only person who Deputy Prime Minister, are self- attack Tory MPs on Lords reform at could save the Tories from defeat inflicted, while Ed Miliband and the LibDems’ conference. there. Labour MPs will scarcely be able to No such worries for Ed Miliband, believe their luck this autumn. And this conference season, there who heads for Manchester with his will be plenty of people scrutinising In Birmingham this year, the standing among his MPs and in his Boris Johnson carefully and beleaguered Prime Minister faces his party stronger than at any time since wondering if he’s the only person toughest party conference as Tory he defeated his brother for Labour’s who can save the Tories from defeat leader since 2007 in Blackpool. crown two years ago. nationally.

14 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk COLUMNS:

PAUL ROUTLEDGE

Man with the Mirror

The dreaded ‘E’ word

EFERENDUM Europe is the name colony – a foregone conclusion. while the second would be a popular

of the elephant on the fringe of verdict on the terms of any renegotiated No wonder people here, but this year’s conference season. It deal “against the alternative of

R particularly across England, are asking: would be inside the room, but party withdrawal.” Where’s ours?” The most recent poll managers are keen to avoid divisive put support for a national vote at 80 That scary “W” word is increasingly set-piece debates on the issue. It will “ per cent, with 50 per cent demanding heard in Tory ranks, setting off alarm certainly be the talk of the town outside.

it now. Fewer than one in five would be bells among Lib Dems. Nick Clegg will The Eurozone’s slow-motion car crash happy with a vote “in the foreseeable have to use his Brighton conference

has only served to whet Tory appetites future.” not only to reassert his leadership and for a national vote on the UK’s future sustain the Coalition, but also to raise in the EU. Feeling is particularly strong the tattered standard of Europhilia among the impatient 2010 intake of “ Ed Miliband, by contrast, simply has MPs, who sense that momentum is with Party managers are to tease the Tories, a skill he has honed them. keen to avoid divisive to near-perfection in recent PMQs, So far, David Cameron has been to capitalise on the government’s able to stem the rising tide of demand set-piece debates on tribulations. Labour has its own with constant repetition of his triple- the issue Eurosceptics, of course, but they are lock “guarantee” of a referendum on nothing like as numerous or influential changes that require a new treaty or as the Tory dissidents. transfer any fresh powers to Brussels. More than eighty Tory MPs have The real danger is to Cameron’s But this tactic looks increasingly weak demanded an “in-out” referendum, political credibility. He has to skirt the and vulnerable. and the influential Fresh Start Group rocks of the Scylla referendum while produced a shopping list of powers – Pressure is mounting on all sides. On avoiding the Charybdis whirlpool of justice, employment law, energy and the Right, from backbenchers (and a Maastricht-style rebellion among agriculture - they want the government some Cabinet figures), from party his restive MPs. As the historian Ross to repatriate from Brussels as part of a members, and from Ukip. On the Left, McKibbin puts it :”Europe could do to “radically different relationship with the Ed Miliband is noisily flirting with a Cameron what it did to John Major, even EU.” The outcome of those negotiations referendum in Labour’s next election if in the Lib Dems he has a protection would be put to a referendum. manifesto. And polling expert Lynton Major never had.” Crosby advised Cameron: “If I was That is the kind of help that self- If he is to avoid Major’s fate, of being confident Labour was going to do it, I’d confessed “practical Euro-sceptic” David a one-time-elected Prime Minister, get there first.” Cameron could probably do without Cameron has no option but to come up amid the glare of conference publicity, Moreover, it’s fashionable. The with a strategic formula that buys off his especially coming from his former aide Scots are to have a referendum on Westminster critics, placates rank and George Eustice MP. But the pressure independence or more devolved powers file opinion and outflanks Ukip. After only mounts. Dominic Raab, Tory MP in 2014. The Welsh had a successful conference comes a by-election in the and self-appointed Euroguru, admits referendum on a greater role for marginal constituency of Corby, where that “a referendum now would be a Cardiff. The UK had a referendum on there are already fears that Ukip could distraction”, but nonetheless urges his electoral reform, which gave the Tories push the Tories into third place. leader to offer the public a “referendum an impressive tactical victory. Even sandwich.” I see no alternative but the promise of the Falkland Islanders are to have a a referendum, with a date. Cameron has referendum next year, with the outcome Not one, but two votes! The first would to ride the elephant, or it will trample his – to stay in a taxpayer-funded British provide a mandate for renegotiation premiership into the ground. www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 15 LIFTING THE CLOUD OF SOCIAL Social injustice has been a vexed issue for successive British governments for more INJUSTICE than a decade, with each having pledged to get to the roots of the problem. The Coalition Government’s “Social Justice Strategy”, however, has prompted some speculation that Whitehall could be on the verge of turning a corner in tackling social injustice. Politics First asked Iain Duncan Smith, Nick Hurd, Helen Newlove, Victor Adebowale, Herman Stewart and Child Poverty Action Group to discuss how to improve the life chances of the disadvantaged in the UK...

Iain Duncan Smith debt, welfare dependency and family difference to improving children’s life breakdown – these are the multiple and chances. overlapping problems that underpin Secretary of State for Work Through the pioneering use of social disadvantage. They are our five payment by results – both in the Work and Pensions giants, the modern-day equivalents of Programme and in new innovation fund the great social challenges outlined by projects to support disadvantaged young William Beveridge seventy years ago, people – we are making sure that every which we must tackle in order to stem pound of Government money is only social breakdown at its source. being paid out where it has a positive It is a formidable task, but one impact on people’s lives. which this Government is determined Behind this sits our vital reform of the to address head-on. This March, we benefits system. Universal Credit is a published the Social Justice strategy new single payment we are introducing which established our vision for from next year, which will be simpler for transforming the lives of the most people to understand and will ensure disadvantaged individuals and that work pays. That is about changing families. The strategy is based on a culture of entrenched dependency, new fundamental principles: early making sure that if you are looking intervention to prevent people from for work, the system incentivises you falling into difficulty in the first place, and and takes you on a journey towards a second chance for those whose lives independence. do go off track, with full recovery as the ultimate outcome. In all this, once again, we take our lead n spite of the recession, Britain remains from Beveridge. His guiding belief, that But real change also comes through the 7th largest economy in the world. a “revolutionary moment in the world’s reforming how Government delivers In a country so wealthy, it is an injustice history is a time for revolutions, not for I services for the most vulnerable – so that a whole section of our society patching”, is as true now as it was in whether in the reform of the welfare remains trapped on the margins. As a the 1940s. All too often, Government’s system, the education system, the London MP, I have seen, firsthand, the response to social breakdown has been criminal justice system, credit unions or way deep-rooted social problems have a classic case of “patching” – containing addiction services, we are now making been allowed to develop in our poorest problems and limiting the damage, but these principles a reality. communities, which is why I set up the not believing that there could be a path Centre for Social Justice in 2004. At the By investing in stable families and to fundamental change. CSJ, we recognised that making a real children’s early years – doubling the This Government is committed to difference to those living in poverty number of Family Nurse Partnerships, making a meaningful and sustainable meant addressing the pathways that had extending early education, and putting difference to the lives of people who led them there. £30 million into relationship support have been left behind. Now is the time to – we are steering the focus towards Educational failure, addiction, make that change happen. areas which we know can make a real

16 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership a new course designed to draw out their skills and talents as inspirational managers and leaders. At a special graduation ceremony in London the team explained what the experience has meant to them

TAKING THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE

+ ($#$%%$(% of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). appropriate qualification for managers, I + #$!$ &% ' ! !%%) & experienced frustration and despair at the lack of know what you are doing and that they can trust #' % $!# &#$$,$)$ # you. As well as technical experts we have to be Director of Learning and Development at Blenheim #$, CDP. Meeting trainer Alia Taub from Management Laraine Start had been a manager at Blenheim Focus Training Solutions changed all that. Over CDP for eight years when she embarked on the the next few months they worked out a course ! &#$+ %% &%) that would test knowledge, skill, reflective practice $%# %$ ( $$$,$$)$+ %%&% and be just as relevant to the wider health and me about management styles, change social care field * and would result in a recognised management and the need to read every context global qualification. differently. It also taught me that learning styles +( % #$% $%#% !!) # $$, %## % %#( #,$)$ !# + %"&$% )$ $%!,$ cent pass rate showed that their investment in an $)$+ &# &% #%)$ %&$% &% #% &#$! + (' # % ! !(%% %,$ &% %'% !% % #$,$ cheerleader *someone to encourage them and says. %#$$ #%,# ($ $%% + &#$($$ % &%%$% last managers to sign up for the course and % !$# & %,$)$( ($ admits to hanging back initially. But the &#$%&% # #%!# #+$ %%#% $ + %$%)'$& &#$,$ assessment process that used different skills, from won her over and made her realise that her project development to presentations. Managers dyslexia was not a barrier. were faced with challenges and now have the Presenting the graduation certificates, the Lord skills, resources and knowledge to face situations Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Angela Harvey, %)( & ,%'% #, $$($ $!#)%%,$( # + ) # $% $ )' !%% # % ! !,$'$+( # skills of their people, without developing their ) & $# #&$,$$+ #$! %,$)$#$ &!!&'#)% ) & !%%) &, % & ) &## &# ),

BECOME A FULLY QUALIFIED MANAGER

The Diploma in Management and Leadership is a 14-day programme of study held over ten months, in central London and costs £2,700 for study in 2012/13. It is designed for those who are current managers, or those who are aspiring managers, and gives an opportunity to progress to Chartered Manager status through the CMI. For further information and application forms, contact Training Administrator Blenheim CDP, 66 Bolton Crescent, London presentation skills were all assessed and, for me, it was the variety of assessment methods SE5 0SE. Tel: 020 7582 2200. email: that made it special, unique and rightly [email protected]

Nick Hurd Minister for Civil Society something better to help teenagers make right track by effective mentoring, cognitive the transition to adulthood. behaviour, and restorative justice. The lessons for me are clear. Work But also I do not share the rose tinted through the organisations and networks glasses that every transgression is to be that people trust, and help them grow. Value excused by the usual get out clauses of bad the small and local. Be prepared to back parenting, lack of opportunities, poverty, genuine innovation. Do not condescend for example. To me, that is patronising, and people; believe in them and encourage highly offensive to the many working class them to help themselves. Finally, look to people like my family who may not have build really effective partnerships across had much in the way of money, but gave me the public, private and voluntary sectors and many like me the irreplaceable treasure that are rooted in a strong sense of mutual of strong morals, and social values. obligation to work together for the common I have seen amazing examples of how good and support people who are less we can improve the life chances of the fortunate than yourself. Big Government so called ‘disadvantaged’. What does not has failed. Time for something different. work are those in power who have never lived in those backyards laying down laws Baroness Helen and solutions to problems they will never he search for social justice has driven experience in their comfortable lives. politicians of all colours for centuries. Newlove What works outstandingly is local people THere we are in 2012; still looking with local knowledge, reaching out and at unacceptable levels of inequality and Government Champion supporting the most vulnerable, who they still debating what Government should will know by name, delivering small but be doing to improve life chances for the for Active, Safer sustainable diversionary opportunities disadvantaged in today’s society. Communities and being helped in turn by resources, The most effective programmes I knowledge and transferring of power for have come across are those that want to all agencies – and that means police, local help people to help themselves and aim authorities and third sector organisations. a little higher. Some of those are large I am justified by my often ridiculed organisations such as the Princes Trust. support of the silent army of volunteers. Some will grow, like IntoUniversity, who With their help we delivered the best help to raise the aspirations of young people Olympic Games which stunned the cynics who might not otherwise think university and doubters into silence, and did so much was for them. However, most are very good to wipe away the destruction to our small, very local and often led by residents. national reputation by the summer riots just Sometimes interventions can have a a year before..On a world stage we showed dramatic effect. I am very proud to be the just what a fantastic country we are – and Minister responsible for the National Citizen I would urge every person reading this Service because I have seen it turn teenage regardless of your political colour to not let lives around . Tom from Middlesbrough is them disappear but harness their energy and willingness to be the Good Neighbour just one example. His life was rocked by t has been five years since the unprovoked the death of his mother but he credits NCS we want to be or live beside. For those murder of my late husband Garry by who look for maps to follow, I r direct you with helping him make the transition from drunken fuelled teenagers, in front of my ASBOs to a valuable apprenticeship. He is I to see what is happening in communities three young daughters who had to testify in where ‘ordinary’ citizens have taken control not alone. Across the country parents of court as eye witnesses. I have never sought NCS graduates are seeing the difference and changed their neighbourhoods for to stigmatise a whole generation of young the better? The Communities website will in their children while schools are seeing a people for this as it is tiny proportion, only change in attitude back in the classroom. signpost you to lots of activity and sound around one per cent, who can cause such advice. That change is driven by the teenagers devastation with their antisocial, criminal themselves; responding to each other actions. Our much promised Olympic legacy and supported by people they trust. This should deliver every life opportunity for the is a case of the voluntary sector working Outside of those who are feral and need disadvantaged and ‘advantaged’ alike. And in close partnership with Government. incarceration to keep the rest of us safe, it is up to us a society to look inward at what It is also a case of innovation driven by there are vulnerable young people who we we can do individually to support it not just an understanding that we needed to do are in danger of losing forever. I support the for 2012 but for many years to come. many initiatives to get them back on the

18 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk USING SOCIAL ACTION TO MAKE SOCIETY BETTER – TOGETHER

Questions around social action and the need for Of those moving from NEET to EET whilst working with collective responsibility have featured heavily in recent FutureYou, 18.6% stated that it wouldn’t have C

M political rhetoric. But what is social action and why is happened without the programme

Y it important? Children’s charity We’re Altogether Better > CyberMentors, helping young people who might be

CM is leading the debate. being bullied or who are depressed or troubled through

MY peer support and via qualiﬁed counsellors. On average,

CY We’re Altogether Better is a new organisation developed CyberMentors reduces bullying, harassment and

CMY by the BeatBullying team. Launched in January 2012, antisocial behaviour by 40%, and 72% of young

K supported by Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, people report improved wellbeing and through a £1.3m Social Action Fund grant, > BeatBullying works with children and young people We’re Altogether Better transforms young people’s across the UK to stop bullying, to improve confidence lives through social action. Creating unique volunteering and enable them to fulfil their potential opportunities for young people aged 8-25, We’re > MiniMentors helps primary school children learn how Altogether Better tackles social problems through to look after themselves and respect each other, online peer-to-peer support networks. encouraging friendships, developing communication skills and increasing wellbeing. Following MiniMentors At We’re Altogether Better, social action is action that workshops, 87% of the children involved report does something good and improves the world; enhanced understanding of friendships conscious decision to make a difference, to channel the power we have, alone or together, to make a And, in 2013, We’re Altogether Better will launch a positive change. It is about doing the right thing and fifth programme, MindFull, which will revolutionise the treating people properly; uniting behind a common way young people can access information, advice and cause and achieving collective goals – whatever they are. support regarding their wellbeing and mental health.

We’re Altogether Better has four main programmes: Find out more about We’re Altogether Better, its > FutureYou, an online peer mentoring programme programmes, and how it is shaping the future of social supporting 14- 25-year-olds not in education, action in the UK at werealtogetherbetter.org employment or training (NEET).

www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 19 Lord Victor Adebowale Chief Executive of credits just so they can make ends meet. of the projects have also estimated that We also know that health inequalities result savings of £4 can be made for every £1 Turning Point from social inequalities and cost billions invested. per year in lost productivity and taxes and Connected Care shows that solutions to higher welfare payments. Therefore it is local issues are very often with the people necessary to consider what costs society themselves and engagement is a key part can and should bear and we should ask of the process. To ensure we can build a ourselves what we are prepared to pay for fairer society and truly understand social to sustain a fair society in the long-term. justice, we should make sure we look to The answer to that question will show communities for the answers us what social justice is and it will likely surpass government and be defined by people themselves. Herman Stewart The government wants local leadership Founder of the award- and solutions to poverty but social justice can also be defined in communities. Much winning RAMP mentoring effort has gone into defining social justice programme and author centrally but it is a notion that develops more comfortably from the common of “Every Child Needs a overty presents individuals, values and appetite for integrated and Mentor” communities and governments with responsive services that exist in local vast challenges - and the stakes are communities. The government’s role P includes showing leadership, upholding the highest for the most disadvantaged. As the inverse care law states, those who fairness and providing a setting where need services most tend to get them the not-for-profit organisations can deliver least, but wider society also risks suffering services alongside other sectors. More untold damage if we do not meet these collaboration, too, between the public, challenges. private and not-for-profit sectors is an effective way of using limited resources Defining social justice can itself be tricky. and pooling expertise in the public interest. Is social justice the Coalition government’s approach to tackling poverty, compared The inverse care law exists because to the last government’s social exclusion marginalised people face barriers when agenda? Or is it something less tangible accessing services and because services are that puts more emphasis on empowering not usually designed with them in mind. people? I would like to consider the latter Turning Point works with people with for a moment. complex needs, including those affected by substance misuse, mental health The Social Justice Strategy has many problems, unemployment and those with s the London Olympics came to an elements that I welcome. Commitments a learning disability. Many people face end, I reflected on what Sir Steven to early intervention and prevention, a combination of those problems, so to ARedgrave said: “For all of us, it supporting young people, tackling the meet their needs our services have to be is about the Olympics inspiring a future roots of multiple disadvantage and integrated and responsive to individual generation.” If we really want to inspire a recognising the need for collaborative and circumstances. Involving people in the generation, we should consider mentoring innovative approaches to service provision process of developing services is also key that generation. are all encouraging aims which I support. and has proved very effective. Imagine if we could tap into the Still, I am concerned by the backdrop Our Connected Care projects empower potential of our younger population and of major public spending cuts and the communities by involving local people everyone was given support through government’s welfare reforms, particularly directly in service design and harnessing mentoring regardless of their ability or as recent evidence suggests work does their experiences and local knowledge. inability and mentoring was available not always pay and there are 3.6 million Local residents lead research and audits for those interested in sports, politics, working households thought to be living on of community need and engage with enterprise, media, or hairdressing? Imagine an economic cliff edge. commissioners and service staff, which the indisputable difference it would make Child poverty alone costs us around leads to redesigned bespoke, integrated to society. Imagine if everyone had a £25 billion annually and taxpayers are and cost-effective health and social care mentor and was enabled to build a life subsidising low paid workers with tax services. Cost benefit analyses of some they were proud of, where they could

20 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk experience opportunities, validation and GSCEs rose from 36 per cent to 65 per cent, liberation. They could be liberated from the Alison Garnham with the gap between these and other stigma established by unfavourable family students falling by a third over this period. backgrounds, historical worklessness or Chief Executive, Child Likewise, the coalition’s Pupil Premium career dissatisfaction. If students made the is informed by the same logic, directing transition from education to employment Poverty Action Group additional funds to schools with higher feeling more equipped, they would be numbers of low income pupils. prepared, enthused and driven to thrive. But good schools are not the only The greatest injustice within society missing piece in the jigsaw. We know that is the existing class system. That children from low income backgrounds hierarchy is a harsh reality but imagine still achieve lower grades even when they if those who had the means to would attend the same good schools as their mentor and leverage their social capital wealthier peers. Research by the Financial to improve the lives of others? If that Times shows that children living in the could be a common reality for many, it bottom fifth of postcodes do far worse on would encourage a great proportion of average at GCSE than children from less society. That would also create a win-win deprived postcodes; no matter what school situation for all, as individuals benefit the children are at, the gap is sustained. ”. from the mentee, their community and Yet when we stop to think one moment the economy benefit, as mentoring is that conclusion should be self-evident. one of the most transformational tools to Where does a child who lives in a damp, improve one’s psyche, relationships with overcrowded house do their homework? others and employment or business. My rowing up in poverty constitutes How can poorer children concentrate vision is to make mentoring accessible a significant disadvantage, both all day if they go to school after an to every young person in the UK and I Gin the here and now but also in inadequate breakfast? How do parents am confident that the realisation of such the way that it affects a child’s chances who are stressed and exhausted by poverty a dream would positively transform later in life. Most obviously, poverty help their children learn? Or pay for the families, neighbourhoods and the younger has a profound impact on educational uniforms, school trips and revision guides generation. achievement, constraining options as well that are nowadays a required part of a ‘free’ Consider the great unemployment that as potential earnings in the future. education? our country is experiencing at present, Poverty simply wipes out any inherent Poorer children do worse within the with the figures for young people Not educational advantage a child may system, but outside the system this holds in Employment, Education or Training have. Research shows, for example, that true as well. Increased autonomy over (NEET) being close to 1 million. The lack by the age of 7, children from affluent admissions procedures ensures that of work creates a disillusioned society backgrounds who were ranked as lower academies and religious schools take fewer and, together with the lack of prospects, ability at 22 months have overtaken those children from low income families even encourages strain on the social purse. I from poorer backgrounds who score highly when such schools are located in more believe that is due to a crisis-focused at this early point. deprived areas. approach and if more early intervention was introduced, much needless stress By the age of 14, children receiving free In addition, truancy and exclusions are could be eliminated. school meals, the most commonly used far more common among children from proxy for low income, are on average five poorer backgrounds. To me, mentoring is this initiative and school terms behind their more affluent is at the core of the solution by nurturing, peers. The complex system of social, economic enabling, empowering and guiding and cultural exclusion that is poverty individuals to do better. Looking at the Do good schools hold the answer to cannot simply be compensated for by a youth and unemployment statistics, we this problem? There is ample evidence good school. cannot avoid or be naive about the facts, to show that not only do children from Education can open up opportunity. But and our youth need assistance more than poorer backgrounds benefit from good if we are really serious about improving the ever. schools, but that they benefit more than their wealthier counterparts from such life chances of the 3.6 million children who To inspire the next generation, let us use provision. Such investments by the Labour are growing up in poverty in the UK today, the power of mentoring to bridge gaps government between 2007 and 2010 we need to recognise that in the absence of that exist. By doing so, we will open up appear to prove the point: during this an adequate family income, such children greater prospects for our youth, providing period the proportion of children receiving will always be at a profound disadvantage opportunities for the new generation. free school meals attaining at least five whether they attend a good school or not. CORRIDORS: Meeting the challenges

to British Foreign Policy

William Hague, “We have restored a Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs proper emphasis on building strong bilateral relationships”

the Arab Spring. It is a more complicated international landscape, with many more centres of decision-making. The world is becoming more multilateral, but it is also becoming more bilateral at the same time: it is not setting into ideologically-opposed geographical blocs, but we see many more flexible relationships that cut across geography, religion and political orientation. Such changes make it harder for us to get our way in foreign policy. But the changes in the world undoubtedly also bring immense opportunities for innovation, trade, and global growth: the world economy is projected to double from $60 trillion to $120 trillion over the next fifteen years. To deal with this world Britain needs a Foreign Office that is not just ‘fit for purpose’ but a centre for diplomatic excellence. We have introduced a sharper focus on commercial diplomacy, with a reinforced economics unit, more staff seconded to business, and Charter for Business. We have restored a proper emphasis on building strong bilateral e are living through perhaps the most unpredictable and relationships, the key to regional influence and an effective role in unstable global environment since the end of the Cold War. international organisations like the UN. That means tapping into our WWe face urgent crises from Iran’s nuclear programme to the networks and relationships beyond Europe and America - in Asia and slaughter of civilians taking place in Syria today, as well as upheaval, throughout the Commonwealth - and reinvigorating ties with old allies tension and change across the Middle East. like Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Syria is our most pressing concern. The violence is utterly Britain needs expeditionary diplomacy: responding to challenges unacceptable; those responsible for these crimes will be held to before they become crises – so over the last year we hosted the London account. We will continue to isolate the regime internationally, deliver Conference on Cyberspace and the London Conference on Somalia. humanitarian aid, assist the opposition through non-lethal means and We are opening up to 19 new Embassies, consulates or trade offices. promote a peaceful political transition. Britain now has the largest diplomatic network in India of any nation in The coming year will be crucial to nuclear non-proliferation efforts. the world and we will be one of very few countries in the world to have We remain committed to a negotiated solution with Iran but the onus an Embassy in every nation of ASEAN. is on Tehran to prove to the international community that their nuclear Britain does not have to choose between the EU and our essential programme is for peaceful energy only and to give up any aspirations relationship with the US and the rest of the world. Foreign policy is not a they might have to acquire nuclear weapons. zero-sum game. In Afghanistan our combat role will change from the end of 2014 but Our ties with Europe are deep. More than forty per cent of our trade is we have pledged an enduring commitment to the Afghan people. We with our European partners. Europe is changing because of the crisis in have dealt a severe blow to Al Qaeda but we must not let it regroup the Eurozone and it is impossible to predict with certainty what the EU elsewhere in the world. That is why, with our allies, we are paying will look like at the end of it. increasing attention to regions of concern like the Sahel. As the Eurozone crisis proves, every European country faces a Beyond that there is an extraordinary shift in economic power and fundamental challenge of competitiveness. It should be our central task influence internationally, away from the developed economies of the to ensure our countries can secure their future prosperity. West and towards the South and East. This is how we are responding to the challenges and opportunities We are seeing the dispersal of that power between a wider number in today’s world: the expansion of British diplomacy, an active and of countries, and an explosion of connections between governments, engaged role in the European Union, a greater focus on bilateral economies and citizens driven by the internet, satellite television and relationships, a programme of Diplomatic Excellence to build up mobile phone technology. the Foreign Office for the long-term, and embracing the digital That is fuelling movements for economic and political reform such as technologies of the 21st century.

22 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk Can a bi-zonal solution be found for Cyprus? At a recent meeting at the UK Parliament a series of prominent speakers historically associated with the search to ﬁnd a settlement in Cyprus, expressed disappointment that no solution had been found to-date on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, despite the best efforts of the international community

Alexander Downer (Special Adviser on included in this figure), 18.13% was Cyprus is therefore not as simple as Cyprus to the UN Secretary-General), classified as Turkish speaking and classifying its citizens as Greek Cypriot Jack Straw and David Hannay (former Muslim, and the remainder classified or Turkish Cypriot and this makes a British Special Representative for as ‘others’ and made up just 3.66% of solution based on a Greek / Turkish split Cyprus) in particular expressed the population. a nonsense. Unsurprisingly, no sensible surprise that Greek Cypriots had not However in the 2011 census in the settlement has been found. Those who accepted the 2004 Annan Plan to free areas of Cyprus unsurprisingly, pretend to be genuinely interested in carve up the island along racial and the ethnic composition reflected a very a Cyprus settlement should take the religious grounds and in doing so different racial make up. Over 21% of trouble to evaluate why bi-zonality is supposedly legitimised the Turkish the population, almost one fifth, is now unworkable and to understand the invasion and occupation of Cyprus. made up of ‘others’. These include not realities on the ground. At the meeting, representatives from only Eastern Orthodox groups such What type of precedent would such Lobby for Cyprus questioned whether a solution set not only in Europe but a settlement can be reached on the Allowing minorities to form their elsewhere? In the UK for example what basis of a bi-zonal agreement that is own state or self-administered would happen if the major cities were to consistent with international norms. To be split on ethnic and religious lines, as begin with, any settlement must respect zone within a unitary state has no seems to be intended for Cyprus? basic human rights and international place in multicultural Europe If Turkey succeeds in legitimising law. Turning a blind eye to Turkey’s well the division of Cyprus along racial and documented human rights violations1, as Russians, Bulgarians, Georgians religious grounds how will this impact is unacceptable. Refugees must be and Greeks but also 27,000 Brits, on the UK? Is it in the UK’s interests to permitted to repossess their homes 10,000 Filipinos, 7,000 Sri Lankans support such a settlement? and land, the illegally settled Turkish and 7,000 Vietnamese. These results The solution is obvious. Cyprus colonists sent to change the ethnic are unsurprising because Cyprus must be reunited as a unitary state balance must be compulsorily but has simply followed the trend of other with minority rights respected. To allow humanely repatriated, and of course the countries in Europe and genuinely minorities to form their own state or Turkish army of occupation must go. developed into a multicultural society. have their own self-administered zone But there is perhaps today an even As to the occupied area, the exact within a unitary state would be the thin more cogent reason why any bi-zonal population figures remain shrouded edge of the wedge and has no place in settlement is doomed to fail. Back in in mystery and conjecture but what multicultural Europe. the 1950s when splitting the island is beyond doubt is that hundreds of along Greek and Turkish lines was first thousands of Turkish colonists have mooted, and even during the 1970s poured in and swamped the Turkish when the idea of a bi-zonal federal Cypriots, forcing them to emigrate. solution was first suggested, the And there are also thousands of Brits, demographic composition of Cyprus other Europeans, and residents from was relatively straightforward. In the other states living, probably illegally 1960 census when Cyprus became on stolen land, in the occupied area. independent 78.2% of the population What is clear however is that whilst www.lobbyforcyprus.org was classified as Greek Cypriot, the overwhelming inhabitants of the www.twitter.com/lobbyforcyprus meaning Greek speaking and Christian occupied area may now be Muslim, [email protected] Orthodox (the small Maronite, Latin they are certainly not Turkish Cypriot. Lobby for Cyprus is a non-party-political and Armenian communities were The demographic composition of organisation with the aim of reuniting Cyprus

1 See Council of Europe, European Commission of Human Rights applications 6780/74 and 6950/75 Cyprus against Turkey report of Commission, July 1976; European Court of Human Rights Cyprus v Turkey judgment, May 2001; Sunday Times ‘The terrible secrets of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus’, 23 January 1977. CORRIDORS: Multilateralism in an

age of global challenges

Douglas Alexander, Shadow Foreign Secretary “What we are seeing now in Asia is a return to this 50/50 balance”

In 1800, more than half the world’s population lived in Asia and made half the world’s products, but by the 1900’s this output had fallen substantially and they were only making one fifth of the world’s products. What we are seeing now in Asia is a return to this 50/50 balance. So when history looks back on the last decade, it will not be remembered for the 3 words ‘War on Terror.’ It will be remembered for the three words ‘Made in China’. The second truth we need to recognise is the transfusion of power from states to citizens. Part of the strength of Arab dictators over recent decades was the monopoly they held on information. As Fareed Zakaria reminds us, in 1991 the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq was declared a state secret by Saudi Arabia, its neighbouring country. And it remained a secret to the Saudi Arabian population for 8 days. Today, such an event would be global knowledge in seconds. The time it takes to send a single tweet. ritain’s authority around the world is under sustained challenge – but our influence has rarely been more And the collapse of the states’ monopoly on information in needed. many Middle East countries – firstly broken by Al Jazeera and B now by social media - contributed to the recent collapse of The challenges come from the new and evolving context in dictatorships in countries like Egypt and Tunisia. That is power which British foreign policy is today being conducted – where shifting not between countries, but within them. we now risk being less relevant in the two spheres of influence that have for so long sustained us. Today’s foreign policy environment poses real and grave challenges to this country – ones that are hard to resolve and Less relevant in a European Union that is focused on the even more difficult to predict. crisis and consequences of a currency that the last Labour government rightly decided not to join. But what is clear is that, in order to navigate those new challenges we need a coherent approach to conducting a And less relevant to a United States weary of ten years of war multilateral foreign policy in an increasingly multi-polar world. in Afghanistan and Iraq - and now consciously rebalancing its priorities and its focus from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The threats we face transcend borders – threats to the global economy, climate change, terrorism, food and water Those changes are partly the result of momentous supplies - all requiring international cooperation to an extent not developments both within and between states of the kind that previously required. happen once in a generation - and I am convinced they will continue to shape the future trajectory of our foreign policy for The UK has significant strategic and economic interests decades to come. dependent on engaging and influencing countries that vastly outstrip us in terms of population, natural resources or the scale The first is the transmission of economic power. The financial of their militaries. Of course, our bilateral relationships with crisis of 2008 actually accelerated pre-existing trends: a those countries will be important. generational shift in wealth and power from West to East, North to South. But bilateral relationships can only take you so far. As Professor Joseph Nye of Harvard argues, we are not The need and case for multilateralism in the modern world is actually witnessing the rise of Asia: it is the recovery of Asia. a fact that no government can deny or ignore.

24 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk CORRIDORS: Don’t blame the world Dr Liam Fox, Conservative MP for North Somerset “Our problems do not lie in the general world economy”

Despite the benign economic environment of the time, from 2002-2007 under Labour, UK national debt as a percentage of GDP actually increased - from around 31 per cent to around 37 per cent. On the back of the financial crisis it has ballooned to around 70 per cent of GDP. By 2009/10 that meant the Government was spending over £150bilion more than it received in income. The annual interest that we have to pay on our debt – at around £4.5billion – is bigger than the budgets for defence, the Foreign Office and overseas aid combined. It means that each taxpayer has to pay around £1500 per year in tax just to fund the interest, and without any debt actually being paid off. Based on the 2010 U.S. budget, it was estimated that total national debt would almost double in dollar terms between 2008 and 2015 and grow to nearly 100 per cent of GDP. However, ahead of predictions, some sources maintain that the 100 per cent ratio was reached in the third quarter of 2011 and that this has risen to around 115 per cent today. What it took total war to achieve in the 1940s has been achieved by total mismanagement today. That has consequences beyond simple economics, for debt is also a strategic estern leaders have become increasingly fond of telling issue. us that our economic woes are part of the wider global Weconomic problems. The trouble is that this story just does The United States, with its huge debt interest payments burden, not fit the facts. Since the year 2000, total global GDP has risen from is cutting its defence spending to help make ends meet – around around $30 trillion to around $70 trillion. Even since the Lehman Bros $500bilion over this decade. The irony seems to be lost on some collapse and the consequent banking turbulence, it has grown by that much of this debt interest will end up in Moscow and Beijing. 20 per cent. While European leaders increasingly obsess about their In other words, America has been more enfeebled by welfarism self-made crisis in the Eurozone and its consequences, the countries and big government than it ever was by the ideology or practice of they refer to as “emerging economies” are tearing over the economic communism. horizon. Economic strength is the wellspring of political and international Let us be honest. Our problems do not lie in the general world influence. Economic failure will lead to the collapse of political economy. We have a problem in the United States and Europe with fortunes and with it a collapse in global influence. huge levels of debt, the result of fiscal incontinence and the insane So how will we get growth in Britain? Not from consumers who belief that we could continue to live beyond our means without are already changing their behaviour to reduce their personal debt. a day of reckoning arriving. In Europe, the sheer ineptitude in the Not from Government which is engaged in deficit reduction. If we creation and management of the single currency project continues want to get growth we need to free up the money locked up by an to reverberate with leaders staggering from one bailout summit to over taxed and over regulated economy and bring more money in another. In Britain, the debt crisis left behind (yet again) by a failed from direct investment and better export earnings. That will require Labour government is exacerbated by overregulation and a fiscal labour market reforms to make us more competitive and to make job approach that is still too heavily tilted towards maintaining bloated creation easier. It also requires tax simplification and tax reduction on state spending rather than wealth creation. employers paid for by further public expenditure reductions. The Coalition government in Britain recognised from the outset We do not need to look at history to see where huge indebtedness that the huge budget deficit would have to be eliminated and the leads though it is littered with examples of how economic collapse reward for this courage has been historically low borrowing rates, can lead to internal political upheaval and external loss of influence. allowing structural rebalancing within a stable framework. But the We need only look across the European continent to the predictable scale of the problem remains enormous. tragedy that is Greece or the horror of Spain’s youth unemployment When, under Tony Blair, his Chancellor Gordon Brown abandoned to see why change is vital. The rest of the world does not owe us a the previous Conservative Government’s strict spending policies, living and is doing rather well. The quicker we awaken to this reality Britain’s national debt began an inexorable rise. the better. www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 25 CORRIDORS: Ensuring British military

combat-readiness Jim Murphy, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence “The practice of fighting conflicts together but preparing for them individually must come to an end”

structures. We have a higher number of officers across all three services than both French and American air, land and maritime forces, but the government plans to perpetuate rather than challenge this imbalance. If our armed forces are to be reshaped effectively, we need disproportionate reductions of senior officers. Ministers focus almost solely on structures, not purpose. We believe a leaner British armed forces must retain an interventionist stance, born from the conviction that we have responsibilities beyond our borders and that security overseas will support safety at home. We must continue to defend our interests and values overseas, but in today’s interdependent world risks are increasingly shared and solutions must be too. That demands a new multilateralism in defence, forming new defence partnerships, maximising our strength by integrating resources. That is particularly important with regard to NATO. Alliance members are making significant cuts to defence capability in isolation of one another, the aggregate consequence of which may be significant he global security landscape is changing irrevocably. Arab Spring capability shortfalls across the Alliance. We must explore how to recast orthodoxies showed that sustainable stability depends on maximise capability by co-ordinating decision-making. The practice Tpolitical freedom. Demographic change is increasing pressure of fighting conflicts together but preparing for them individually must on, and possible conflict over, stretched natural resources. Weak and come to an end. failing states outnumber strong states two to one. Long-term security Future defence policy must be better co-ordinated with development, effects of climate change may reinforce tendencies to state failure. recasting our notion of intervention so that it enables effective national Increasing availability of technology means new types of weaponry are and local governance, frameworks for civil justice, functioning rule of being developed. law and legitimate civil police. Deployment of non-military forces such That immense change comes at a time of unavoidable budgetary as border or civilian police should always be considered alongside other constraint. The global economic downturn and the Government’s failure ‘soft’ tools such as trade agreements, diplomatic engagement or public to stimulate domestic private sector growth, coupled with persistent diplomacy strategies. problems in procurement, mean defence spending must increase at a Reform must go from ‘tooth to tail’, and that includes the Ministry of lower rate than it did during our time in government. Defence itself. Careful reduction in numbers of civil servants is necessary, Today, ambitions must be met through new solutions. There is no but without an effective and efficient Department driving strategy trade-off between savings and strategy, and UK defence policy has five and delivery security objectives will be hampered. Reform of Defence priorities to ensure we are combat-ready in this ever-changing world. Equipment and Support to make the organisation a Non Departmental Our aim must be to instil agility and flexibility across our Force structures Public Body, to increase independence but retain accountability and defence posture. and uncompromised focus, is essential, as is creation of a culture of consequences through professionalisation of defence procurement. We must reform our Forces. Ministers plan to reduce the Army to 82,000, the smallest since the Boer War, and fill this capability gap with Finally, the evolving security landscape will demand new capabilities our brilliant but part time Reservists. That is a military gamble with huge and a modernised, responsive defence industry, supported by an questions over achievability. Cuts to capability are being made with little active industrial strategy, can deliver them. Targeted R&D investment, detail on how we will achieve more with less. Urgent Operational Requirements linked to the longer-term equipment programme as well as clear targets to ensure efficiency are all vital We support our Reserves being an essential element in achieving components of a modern industry. We must provide industry with defence outputs, but civilian skills should be used as specialisms and greater certainty and support, in particular with greater clarity over long- they must integrate with Regular Forces pre and during deployment. In term sovereign capabilities. addition, a flexible posture demands advanced Special Forces and their role will become increasingly significant. Our Forces’ professionalism is matched only by their humility. We must have a defence strategy that is as bold as they are brave and as We must demand greater efficiency, but also correct ‘top heavy’ wide-ranging as today’s security challenges are great.

26 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk CORRIDORS: Looking to the past to

safeguard the future Dr Duncan Anderson, Head of War Studies Department, Royal Military “At the moment, Britain Academy Sandhurst has one of the best armies it has ever possessed”

back in the UK, and some excellent soldiers may choose to leave. By 2020, the strength of the regular army will stand at 82,000, the smallest army Britain has had since the early eighteenth-century. The shortfall will be made up by expanding the Territorial Army, which will become a fully deployable reserve. All regulars agree that individual TA soldiers have given outstanding service in Iraq and Afghanistan, but these same TA soldiers are the first to stress that their own units, as presently constituted, would be incapable of effective deployment on operations in much less than a year of intensive training. Bringing the TA up to a level approaching that of regular units will take time and money, so the reliance on the TA might not prove to be much of an economy, certainly not if it is to be taken seriously. And that reliance on the TA reinforces fears within the regulars that a ‘two tier’ army will emerge by 2020, with well-trained well-equipped brigades to carry out assault operations, followed by the ‘also-rans’, predominantly light infantry which will be engaged in ‘sustainability’ operations. That fear may prove to be fanciful, but at the moment it is widespread. hen he was teaching at the Army Staff College shortly after The conceptual component involves the education and training the First World War, Britain’s pre-eminent military theorist, of our armed forces. In the early 1930s, when Britain faced a similar WColonel JFC Fuller, identified three components essential to financial crisis, training budgets for all services were slashed. In what he called “fighting power”. Those were the material (equipment), 1939, we deployed divisions to France which had never trained as the moral (manpower) and the conceptual (education and training) formations, commanded by officers who had never been on a properly dimensions of war. With only minor modifications, Fuller’s analysis conducted staff-ride, along with an air force which rejected any notion remains the key to understanding combat capability to this day. Faced that it should support ground forces. The result was the debacle of May with a massive ‘black-hole’ of some £38 billion in the defence budget, 1940, from which the British Expeditionary Force escaped more by the government has had to find savings, without simultaneously good luck than good management. reducing the ‘fighting power’ of the armed forces. Lessons from that time have sunk deep into the collective Reducing expenditure on the material component was painful but consciousness of all three services; though some budgets have relatively straightforward. In addition to the cancellation of a number been trimmed, others, particularly those funding new educational of planned procurement programmes, the navy lost a number of technology and various aspects of cyber war, have been generally warships, the air force the Harriers, and the army a number of AFVs, maintained or even expanded. As the Viscount Alanbrooke once including a substantial number of MBTs. Components essential to an observed, in the 1930s a hungry army ate its brain. Though there have expeditionary capability, however, particularly the aircraft carriers, the been attempts to wipe out parts of the conceptual apparatus, thus far Type 45 destroyers, and long -range transport and refuelling aircraft, his successors have been able to keep much of the grey-matter intact were retained or added to the inventory. That rebalancing will serve and functioning. not only to enhance the reach of the armed forces, but will also ensure Faced with a large short-fall in funding, senior officers of all three the survival of a workforce skilled in many aspects of weapon design. services and their civilian counter-parts have restructured the armed Reducing expenditure on the moral component has been much forces so that they can deal with contingencies anticipated by the more painful, because this hits the personnel of the armed forces, and Strategic Defence and Security Review. If the assumptions underlying the willingness of airmen, sailors and soldiers to give their all for their that review prove to be correct, the new structures should prove service and their country. All the services face reductions, but those adequate. imposed on the army, redundancy for 20 per cent of those now serving, But if the assumptions prove to have been overly optimistic, if, for are making the deepest impact. At the moment, Britain has one of example, some disaster in Afghanistan delays transition, or some crisis the best armies it has ever possessed, composed of battle-hardened in the Middle East drags in a large part of our armed forces, the lights in veterans, many of whom have had five or six operational tours over the Ministry of Defence will once more burn long into the night. So far the past six or seven years. The morale of those on operations remains they have managed hugely difficult reductions far more adroitly than extraordinarily high, but many now believe that the best the future did their predecessors in the 1930s; there has been some very skilful holds for them is the boredom of barrack life in ever contracting units management but they will also require more than a little luck. www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 27 CORRIDORS: Failing people who put Armed Forces Pensions:

their lives at risk for our !"%"!

country " %" !!"% Katy Clark, “I have always taken the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Armed view that pensions should This summer is seeing some clarity Let us be under no illusions, the The much-heralded, but long Forces Veterans’ Pensions be considered deferred emerge in the new reality of Armed new pension scheme will usher in awaited, New Employment Model may Forces pensions, with its winners a fundamental change in lifestyle alleviate this, but only by employing pay” and its losers. But the real test is yet choices for longer serving ranks. people to a greater age. Is that what to come. we want for our Armed Forces? There can be little question of any In-service qualifications, outplacement commissioned officers). Already more than 300,000 have signed Nobody who studies the transitional servicemen and women ‘retiring’ and second (spouses’) salaries will the Equality for Veterans petition calling for pensions for these arrangements and the accrued rights at the end of their service. come further to the fore. veterans and I hope that we can at least get a Parliamentary should be in any doubts as to their debate on this issue when Parliament returns after the fairness. And in both areas, our And that gives our nation Conference Recess. briefings to the many audiences we opportunities to grasp those whose This June, the Ministry of Defence announced the talk to (up 12,000 servicemen and life skills have, for the most part, redundancy of over 3,000 service personnel, and this July, it was women in a year) is that both are ‘As been immeasurably enhanced by their announced that 17 army units will be axed which means overall good as it gets’ - for those who are Service challenges. strength will be reduced by 20,000. There will be at least two rounds of redundancies next year and in 2014. covered. They understand that simple, robust message and believe it from us But the job is not yet finished, There has been outrage not just that some of those who when they are reluctant to believe it indeed, it has hardly begun. It is our have already received redundancy notices have seen recent task in the months ahead to explain action but also that a number of those were within months of from others. their immediate pension point and so will lose out as a result of to the Services in clear and simple this unfortunate timing. It is thought likely that many of those So far so good. On the other hand, !! messages that times have changed, affected in further rounds of redundancies will be put in a similar with the publication of the outline ""% irrevocably, in this area; to pose position unless there is a change of policy. design for the new scheme, to come the question ‘What other job might robably some of the situations which I have found most " The Ministry are also now proposing that the age that armed in from 2015, many are bound to you do which would offer you a disturbing as a constituency MP have been when ex- personnel can claim their pensions could rise from 55 to 60 years " members of the armed forces with severe injuries, whether make unfavourable comparisons with better pension? P old, that it moves from a final salary scheme to a career average they be physical or psychological, have come to me for help those who have gone before them. It "% " and that the length of service for a full pension increases from to get housing, benefits, aids for their disabilities and access to is, as we all know, and we still have We think the honest, critical answer 18 years to 20 years. $ healthcare. I have been shocked at the way I have had to fight some tricky calculations to make, "% to this question would result in a for basic services such as suitable housing with a ramp and That proposal is, of course, a kick in the teeth for those something like a 12% reduction in progressive realisation that what is which is adapted with rails for someone who has lost the use who have been campaigning for a more meaningful “military value on what has gone before. " #!" offered to the Armed Forces is a fair of their limbs in conflict or for benefits or access to healthcare covenant” and indeed for decent pensions for all of those who Herford,Germany deal for the Services and an affordable services for those who have suffered psychological trauma. have served in our armed forces. I have always taken the view that pensions should be considered deferred pay. That follows hard on the heels of deal for the nation, for the next There has been much talk of the “military covenant” in the the 15% reduction in value caused That huge source of good works and 25 years. chamber of the House of Commons in the seven years I have We know that, for many, army pay is already poor and those by lowering the inflation index to CPI. charitable giving of time which we been an MP and, particularly in opposition, the Conservative proposals represent an effective pay cut and a step back from Party had much to say about it but all too often the reality on conditions which were not won easily. The changes will affect We note that those on the fringe of see in charities, in sports clubs the ground does not live up to the impressive rhetoric. all service personnel under the age of 45 years and basically the public sector such as the Bank and in educational governance, that mean that the armed services will have to serve longer but for a Forces Pension Society Army pensions are an excellent example of how we fail to of England, conspicuously, remain ‘Big Society’ in the flesh, will be smaller pension. 68 South Lambeth Road, take responsibility for those who have fought and put life and welded to RPI and, again, raise the ‘squeezed’, as those leaving limb at risk on our behalf. If we expect people to put their life on the line for a small question: the colours seek at least another Vauxhall, wage surely the very least we can do is ensure they at least London, SW8 1RL The situation as it affects the Gurkhas was high profile in the 12 years of paid employment. retain the pension provisions currently in place. I hope that over Tel: 020 7582 0469 last Parliament with the 2009 Parliamentary vote for settlement ‘What is fairness’? Are we all in the coming months we get some real attention on this part of rights also bringing attention to the Labour Government’s this together, or not? Longer serving servicemen and E-mail: [email protected] public sector pension reforms. grant of pension rights to those Gurkhas who retired after 1997. women will now have to prepare Web: www.forcespensionsociety.org The campaign to get full pensions rights for those Gurkhas We need to debate why we should give our veterans the Servicemen and women are for their next phase in life far more who retired before 1997, who currently only get a third of the Forces Pension Society is an independent not-for-profit dignity of a decent pension in retirement and the Government beginning to see at first hand what carefully, with no assumption that it entitlement of UK armed forces, continues with an appeal to the needs to rethink its proposals. organisation and is a member of the Confederation of the new era means to them, very British Service and Ex-Service Organisations European Court of Human Rights. will be ‘alright on the night’. Senior We need to at the very least safeguard the pension provisions personally. Many will be reluctant to NCOs and Warrant Officers will never, There has been little discussion, however, of those UK which currently exist and, in my opinion, look again at how we acknowledge that the first recipients under current manning rules, qualify ex-regular service veterans in the period from 1949 to the treat our service personnel to ensure that we at least provide A member of of the new scheme in toto will not for an immediate full pension and very end of the tax year in 1975 who receive no pension unless some kind of basic dignity when they leave the armed forces. they had completed more than 22 years service (16 years for emerge until the 2030s. few officers just might.

28 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk

Armed Forces Pensions: !"%"! " %" !!"%

This summer is seeing some clarity Let us be under no illusions, the The much-heralded, but long emerge in the new reality of Armed new pension scheme will usher in awaited, New Employment Model may Forces pensions, with its winners a fundamental change in lifestyle alleviate this, but only by employing and its losers. But the real test is yet choices for longer serving ranks. people to a greater age. Is that what to come. we want for our Armed Forces? There can be little question of any In-service qualifications, outplacement Nobody who studies the transitional servicemen and women ‘retiring’ and second (spouses’) salaries will arrangements and the accrued rights at the end of their service. come further to the fore. should be in any doubts as to their fairness. And in both areas, our And that gives our nation briefings to the many audiences we opportunities to grasp those whose talk to (up 12,000 servicemen and life skills have, for the most part, women in a year) is that both are ‘As been immeasurably enhanced by their good as it gets’ - for those who are Service challenges. covered. They understand that simple, robust message and believe it from us But the job is not yet finished, when they are reluctant to believe it indeed, it has hardly begun. It is our from others. task in the months ahead to explain to the Services in clear and simple So far so good. On the other hand, !! messages that times have changed, with the publication of the outline ""% irrevocably, in this area; to pose design for the new scheme, to come " the question ‘What other job might in from 2015, many are bound to you do which would offer you a make unfavourable comparisons with " better pension? those who have gone before them. It "% " is, as we all know, and we still have $ We think the honest, critical answer some tricky calculations to make, "% to this question would result in a something like a 12% reduction in progressive realisation that what is value on what has gone before. " #!" offered to the Armed Forces is a fair Herford,Germany deal for the Services and an affordable That follows hard on the heels of deal for the nation, for the next the 15% reduction in value caused That huge source of good works and 25 years. by lowering the inflation index to CPI. charitable giving of time which we We note that those on the fringe of see in charities, in sports clubs the public sector such as the Bank and in educational governance, that of England, conspicuously, remain ‘Big Society’ in the flesh, will be Forces Pension Society welded to RPI and, again, raise the ‘squeezed’, as those leaving 68 South Lambeth Road, question: the colours seek at least another Vauxhall, 12 years of paid employment. London, SW8 1RL ‘What is fairness’? Are we all in Tel: 020 7582 0469 this together, or not? Longer serving servicemen and E-mail: [email protected] women will now have to prepare Web: www.forcespensionsociety.org Servicemen and women are for their next phase in life far more Forces Pension Society is an independent not-for-profit beginning to see at first hand what carefully, with no assumption that it organisation and is a member of the Confederation of the new era means to them, very will be ‘alright on the night’. Senior British Service and Ex-Service Organisations personally. Many will be reluctant to NCOs and Warrant Officers will never, acknowledge that the first recipients under current manning rules, qualify A member of of the new scheme in toto will not for an immediate full pension and very

emerge until the 2030s. few ofﬁcers just might.

CORRIDORS: A transport system

capable of serving a

globally competitive

economy “Our electrification programme is the largest Theresa Villiers, the country has ever seen” Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet

in full which will provide vitally needed improvements to rail services between major cities in the north of England. It is equally important that we meet our responsibility to keep our railway affordable for taxpayers and passengers. The independent review published last year by Sir Roy McNulty identified inefficiencies in our rail industry worth up to £3.5 billion a year. We are determined to bring down the costs of running the railways. We have published a reform plan to enable us to deliver savings on the scale that the McNulty study said was achievable. A key part of that is making sure the different elements of the rail industry work more cohesively together with a strong shared incentive to focus on reducing costs across the whole system. The Government’s vision for the railways is clear: a railway system that is faster, more reliable, less crowded and greener. Turning to aviation, our goal is to ensure that aviation makes a really positive contribution to economic growth but also addresses its environmental and noise impacts. Last year, his Government continues to make its priority the we published a scoping document on aviation. The 600 or so rebuilding of our economy and to focus on making sure responses we received were used to prepare the draft aviation we can compete in global markets. Significant investment T policy framework on which we are now consulting and which sets in transport infrastructure will be a key part of working toward out the overarching economic and environmental framework that aim. within which we want to see aviation grow. Our vision is for a faster and greener transport system that Later in the year we intend to issue an open call for evidence will provide the basis for a growing and competitive economy. on maintaining the UK’s international aviation connectivity. The Projects such as Crossrail, Thameslink and High Speed 2 represent Chancellor announced in last year’s Autumn Statement that we some of the larger commitments we have made to this end would explore the options for maintaining the UK’s aviation hub since May 2010 but we also understand the importance of and status, with the exception of a third runway at Heathrow. are committed to making smaller-scale improvements such as tackling pinch points on our motorways. In the meantime, we are pressing ahead with action right now to improve our airports. We are trialling new operating practices There has been a rail renaissance since privatisation. More at Heathrow which we believe could improve punctuality people are travelling by rail now than at any time since the 1920s. and reduce the number of unscheduled night flights; we are The rail improvement programme we are committed to delivering modernising the rules for airport economic regulation to put the is the largest since the Victorian era, with more than £18 billion passenger interest first; and we are reforming the way aviation worth of investment in this spending review period alone. security is regulated to enable checks to be delivered in a more Our electrification programme is the largest the country has passenger-friendly and efficient way. ever seen and will benefit passengers up and down the country. We are also improving surface access to a number of airports: It will include lines from the south coast to the east and west Crossrail is expected to provide direct services from Canary Wharf midlands and south Yorkshire, valleys lines into Cardiff and the and the City to the airport for the first time; Gatwick is getting a completion of the electrification of the Great Western main line to major station upgrade and better rail services with Thameslink. Swansea. Luton will also benefit from Thameslink and improved road access The previous Government electrified just 10 miles of railway, is on the way, too. Manchester is getting a new Metrolink tram but we have now set out plans for more than 850 more miles extension. In the longer-term, High Speed 2 will provide greatly of electrified railway. By the time that is completed at the turn improved surface access to Birmingham, bringing thousands of the decade, on current estimates, three quarters of all rail more people within easy reach of the airport. journeys in England and Wales will be made on greener and more

reliable electric trains which cost less to run than the diesel trains This article was written when Theresa Villiers was Minister of State for presently in use. The Northern Hub project has got the go ahead Transport

30 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk We think it’s time politicians ‘do as they say’ on High Speed 2. “We’re going to listen, we’re going to change it, we’re going to get it right.”

Prime Minister David Cameron speaking on the Andrew Marr Show

The DfT insist that HS2 is needed to relieve capacity exaggerated demand; ‘untenable’ values of time savings issues on the West Coast Main Line, but FirstGroup while using the ‘simplifying’ assumption that people don’t say on winning the WCML franchise that it has ‘a work on trains (that the DfT say accounts for 40% of HS2 considerable amount of unused capacity’. When the benefits); as well as insufficient analysis of alternatives. trains are extended to 11 coaches this year, they will just Still, aren’t rail journeys better for the environment than be 35% occupied allowing them to swallow a doubling cars or air travel? Not when it’s high speed. Not when in demand without needing any more capacity. the DfT assume twice as many brand new journeys on Then there’s the re-balancing of the north/south divide. HS2 as people switching from cars and air. And especially Or is there? Academics suggest there is no valid evidence not if freed up domestic air slots are taken by more for the claimed transformational benefits. In fact, if you polluting long haul flights. connect two cities the theory and evidence suggests the So what’s the right thing to do? Instead of wasting £33bn dominant one wins. on HS2, let’s invest in things that will give us a real rate of Doesn’t HS2 have a good business case? Not any more. return. £33bn would pay for a truly integrated Even the DfT admit it’s much worse and near to half what transport network with enough left over to propel the it was in 2010. We have also demonstrated that the real country into the broadband fast lane. A programme Benefit to Cost ratio (BCR) is 90p* for every £1 of taxpayers’ for real growth and jobs that provides a premium money – a 10p loss! And its not just us, the Public rather than requires a subsidy. Accounts Committee cite unrealistic pricing assumptions; It’s time to think again. HS2: It’s time to think again

www.hs2actionalliance.org

* See our review of the current Business Case at: www.hs2actionalliance.org/index.php CORRIDORS: Sustainable transport in

reverse

Maria Eagle, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport “Commuters are facing annual ticket price rises of up to 11 per cent”

growing pressures on household budgets, Labour banned train companies from increasing fares by more than a strict limit of just one per cent above inflation. One of the first acts of the new Coalition was to lift the cap to three per cent above inflation but also give back to train companies the right to add up to another five per cent on top on some routes. Ministers claim that those price rises are needed to fund investment, yet the National Audit Office found that the Department for Transport could not provide evidence that they did not just lead to higher profits for the private train companies. Commuters are therefore facing annual ticket price rises of up to 11 per cent, not just for one year but for three years in a row. Some will find they are paying a third more for their season ticket by the time of the next election. Increasingly getting to work by train is the single largest household expense, more than the cost of the monthly mortgage or rent payment. It will not be surprising if the consequence is people being driven off n tough times, the cost of getting from A to B matters even the rails and back onto the road, increasing not just congestion more than usual to struggling households. We can all extol but emissions. the virtues of picking the mode of transport with the least I As well as hiking the costs of public transport, the focus on impact on the environment but, for most people, affordability getting people cycling and walking has been lost. The Local will be decisive. Sustainable Transport Fund is a good initiative, but it is a Yet, just when households are already facing a real cost of sticking plaster over the hole that has been left by other cuts. living crisis, the Government is driving up the cost of public The entire value of the fund is £560million across five years to transport. At the same time, the efforts on decarbonisation cover a wide range of schemes, compared to the £80million have stalled. As a result, the progress that has been made in committed to cycling every year through the now-abolished reducing the contribution of transport to climate change is Cycling England. There has been no continuation or rolling out being put at risk. of the Cycling Towns and Cities projects funded by Labour. It is right to urge people to consider alternatives to the car Public transport, cycling and walking will never be a where it is possible to do so, but that requires alternatives to substitute for every private car journey, particularly in exist. However, in communities up and down the country, local rural areas. That’s why Labour in government kick-started bus services are being reduced or disappearing altogether. investment in the transition to electric and hybrid vehicles. One in five supported bus services has already been cut. That drive has stalled since the election and the Government Many of the bus services that remain have experienced has abandoned the commitment to support the creation of a inflation-busting increases in fares. That is the direct charging network that is vital to build confidence in the market consequence of decisions taken by Ministers to cut more than for electric vehicles. This should be one of the top priorities of half a billion pounds from support for bus services, including the Department for Transport, yet Ministers are silent on the cutting 26 per cent from the funding that goes to councils to issue and there is no evidence it is seen any longer as a priority. support local transport and 20 per cent from the subsidies that Transport remains a major contributor to climate change go direct to bus companies. Those cuts will inevitably push and the Government should be setting out and implementing more people back into their cars. For the very many people a coherent strategy for sustainable transport, including both without access to a car, particularly older people, those out of ensuring public transport is an affordable and accessible work or on low income, the consequence is increased social alternative to the car alongside decarbonisation. and economic isolation. Sadly, under this Government, the progress that was being The cost of travelling by rail is being hiked by the made on both has gone into reverse. Government at an even more dramatic rate. In response to the

32 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk Sustainable travel

requires bold efforts Louise Ellman, Chair of the Transport Select Committee “Government action is almost invariably too limited to meet the commitments ministers make”

We recently inquired into Government policy on low carbon vehicles. As part of that inquiry we explored issues surrounding the provision of charging infrastructure and the market for these vehicles. The Committee on Climate Change supports widespread uptake of electric vehicles. We have been questioning academics, industry and policy-makers on that issue. I am concerned that uptake remains low, despite the provision of financial incentives. We have looked at the provision of cycle infrastructure as part of our road safety inquiry. We were concerned about the number of cycle casualties, particularly as this is an increasingly popular mode of transport. Steps should be taken to provide a safe environment to encourage more people to walk or cycle. We also held a seminar on sustainable transport, which looked at biofuels, low carbon vehicles and behaviour change. Cutting carbon and fostering a more sustainable travel environment requires coordinated action across Whitehall and engagement with local authorities and community groups. During our programme of work, we have heard about links limate change is one of the most significant issues we face today. between reducing carbon emissions from transport and a number The Government must implement policies that will reduce our of departmental agendas, including health, energy and climate Ccarbon emissions and encourage sustainable lifestyles. The UK is change and communities and local government. For example, committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per encouraging walking and cycling as sustainable forms of transport cent below 1990 levels by 2050, in accordance with the Climate Change links to the Government’s public health agenda and some Act 2008. public health funding will be available for road safety initiatives so that the public can feel safe switching to these modes of In addition, the UK has a role in helping secure agreement to tackle transport. For low carbon vehicles to contribute meaningfully climate change on an international level. Emissions from domestic to reducing the UK’s carbon emissions, they will need to be transport account for 20 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions powered by electricity from an efficient grid that uses low-carbon and 24 per cent of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions. That means that energy sources. DECC’s work to decarbonise the electricity significant efforts to decarbonise the transport sector will be required grid is therefore important to ensure the effectiveness of these if the Government is to make the necessary reductions. Reducing our measures. Providing infrastructure for sustainable modes of dependency on carbon will require a shift from our current transport travel such as cycling will fall to local authorities. It is important models and investment in new approaches. that the sustainability agenda is prioritised at a local level. The Shortly after taking office, the Prime Minister promised that National Policy Planning Framework states that planning should this Government would be the greenest government ever. The make the fullest possible use of public transport, walking or Coalition Agreement called for urgent action to tackle climate cycling and that it should focus development in sustainable change. It committed the Government to greening the transport locations. That does not, however, guarantee results, as decisions sector by ensuring tough emissions standards for vehicles, are devolved to the local level. supporting new technologies, mandating a national recharging Dealing with a problem on the scale of climate change requires network for plug-in-vehicles, recognising the benefits of low joined up Government and strong leadership. Although ministers carbon projects in the planning process, supporting sustainable make positive statements, Government action is almost invariably travel projects and promoting walking and cycling. Those are all too limited to meet the commitments ministers make. laudable goals. In its most recent update on progress towards achieving carbon reduction goals, however, the Committee on Joined-up working between departments is one area in Climate Change concluded that progress in implementing carbon particular where action seems to lag a long way behind intention. reduction measures was modest and stronger performance was It would be easy to sideline the sustainability agenda, particularly needed if Government was to achieve its goals. in these times of economic austerity, but the long-term cost would be catastrophic. We expect – and need – the Government The Transport Select Committee has looked at a number of to step up and respond to the climate change challenge. aspects of the Government’s approach to sustainable travel. www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 33 CORRIDORS: Building an effective

and intelligent youth

justice system “We must allow flexibility Crispin Blunt, and empower experienced Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice professionals to find innovative solutions to tackle offending”

prevents harm to victims and young people alike. This is why we are giving local authorities greater financial responsibility for the cost of secure remands and have initiated four pilot ‘Youth Custody Pathfinder’ programmes, providing local authorities with an incentive to intervene early, cut reoffending and divert young people away from custody. Each Pathfinder area has received upfront investment and has flexibility in delivering results. Should areas fail to meet these aims they will pay back a proportion of their funding. This payment by results will drive innovation and reduce reoffending, but the taxpayer will only pay for programmes that work. Victims of crime have a right to expect more than a system that punishes, but one striving to repair harm and prevent future crimes. It is crucial that our approach to young offenders sees issues through to the end and does not simply stop on leaving custody or completing a court order. We must provide the right support to ensure appropriate housing, education, training or believe that we have already made good progress towards employment opportunities are in place to provide stability with achieving an effective and intelligent youth justice system, but the aim of reducing reoffending. I am determined to deliver more. We must ensure offences are I I am a supporter of restorative justice, which offers an resolved effectively, victims and communities are given greater opportunity to assist offender rehabilitation but also gives victims priority, and that young criminals are appropriately punished but a greater stake in the resolution of offences. In many areas more effectively rehabilitated. Our reforms must also recognise restorative justice is already an integral part of tackling crime. the constraints on public finances, which provide even greater Restorative justice typifies the shift from a centralised top-down urgency to maximising the impact of our resources and reducing approach as it is most effective when based on how victims, bureaucracy. practitioners and communities want to respond to crime in their The most efficient solutions can be found at a local level. We area. must allow flexibility and empower experienced professionals to Analysis conducted by my department has shown that find innovative solutions to tackle offending. I have already halved restorative justice can result in reducing the frequency of the number of performance indicators applying to the youth reoffending and higher victim satisfaction. It is already an justice system, giving greater freedom for those on the frontline established feature of youth justice, with mandated conferencing to do their job. in Northern Ireland and part of referral panels in England and Wherever possible we want to prevent young people entering Wales. I believe it can also greatly benefit adults, but it is another the system in the first place. Early identification, support and area where youth justice holds lessons for the whole justice intervention are essential for an intelligent approach to youth system. offending. To make this a reality we must take a more joined-up Restorative Justice is part of the responsibility agenda. Errant approach that crosses policy boundaries in central government youths and those responsible for them must be accountable and operational boundaries between local agency services. For for their actions, the necessary reparation and future actions to example, we know we must tackle the full range of issues faced address the cause of the offending behaviour. by young offenders and their families. By the time most of these children are in the clutches of the My department is working with others in Whitehall to turn justice system the position is serious and their future prospects around the lives of 120,000 troubled families by 2015. Youth perilous. Inculcating a culture of responsibility for offenders- Offending Teams, themselves an embodiment of a genuine multi- directly to victims as individuals, to society as a whole and to agency approach, are taking the programme forward at a local themselves for a future free from the oversight of the Criminal level. The more we can do to stop problems developing early on Justice system-is the change in approach we wish to see. the better; a strategy that not only makes economic sense but

34 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk   

  

                                            

                      

           •  • • • •    • •                                     

                     

   

   eJournals Health & Social Care

Vital knowledge covering all aspects of research, management and practice Get a free Recent coverage content trial of These journals provide evidence-based coverage of highly topical issues of relevance to the whole spectrum of health and social care professionals. Some recent highlights include: this collection: Safer Communities which analyzes the social disorder of the 2011 English riots Call: integration efforts in the NHS in Journal of +44 (0)1274 515616 Integrated Care E-mail: Health & Social Care Bill impact of the Human Rights Act on minority, ethnic users of health and [email protected] social care services in Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care

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" ' &" ' $ complex needs in Advances in Dual Diagnosis ))) $ !% binge drinking in Ibiza in Drugs and Alcohol Today wellbeing of General Practitioners in Journal of Public Mental Health. Drugs and Alcohol Today Adult Protection%$" *!$&' &% About this collection (!%#$&!$ &"!&"%'$!

!#$&!$%#)& The Emerald Health & Social Care journal collection offers suggestions for improving practice and considers the social impact of research and policy. The collection comprises 31 journals: Advances in Dual Diagnosis Journal of Children's Services Advances in Mental Health & Intellectual Journal of Criminal Psychology Disabilities Journal of Health Organization and Subscription information British Journal of Forensic Practice Management Our flexible subscription options Clinical Governance Journal of Integrated Care give you a choice of subscribing to: Drugs and Alcohol Today Journal of Learning Disabilities and Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Offending Behaviour %"! Social Care Journal of Mental Health Training, Education saving of over 35% Housing, Care and Support and Practice % #"" International Journal of Health Care Quality Journal of Public Mental Health %"! ! ! Assurance Leadership in Health Services !!" International Journal of Migration, Health and Mental Health and Social Inclusion ! $ Social Care Mental Health Review Journal $$" International Journal of Prisoner Health Nutrition & Food Science Groups). International Journal of Workplace Health Quality in Ageing and Older Adults Management Safer Communities Journal of Adult Protection Social Care and Neurodisability For more information Therapeutic Communities Research Tizard Learning Disability Review Call: Journal of Assistive Technologies Working with Older People +44 (0)1274 515616 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.emeraldinsight.com/tk/ hsc001 Parity between mental

and physical health services

Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park “ It is a challenge for all of us. For our society as a whole”

In addition to the roll-out of adult services, we have started from scratch a stand-alone IAPT programme for children and young people – which is vital when you consider half of those with lifetime mental health problems experience symptoms by the age of 14. We have made astonishing progress in 18 months, already improving access to talking therapies for around a third of 0-19 year olds. At the time of writing this article, we are finalising our Suicide Prevention Strategy. It sets out to reduce the already falling suicide rate and provide better support and information to those bereaved or otherwise affected by a suicide. The Strategy recognises that to prevent suicide effectively, a wide range of partner agencies, organisations and sectors need to have their say and lend their expertise. On top of that, we have joined forces with Comic Relief to help tackle mental health stigma, with funding of up to £16 million over the next four years for the leading stigma and anti-discrimination campaign Time to Change, run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. The second phase of that programme is focussing on children and he Coalition’s position on mental health can be summed up young people. simply – No Health Without Mental Health. The IAPT programme, the Suicide Prevention Strategy and Time T It is on the cover of our mental health strategy - a clear to Change will all help to ensure that mental health is a priority commitment to ensuring mental health has the same priority across services and each will tackle mental illness and support service as physical health, that runs right through the strategy and providers on the frontline. implementation plan. And it is an approach that we enshrined in law Our new implementation framework for the mental health through the Health and Social Care Act 2012. strategy No Health Without Mental Health, sets out specific ways we With at least a quarter of us likely to experience mental health will turn our ambition into real change on the ground. problems, it must not be left to languish as a Cinderella service. In the At the strategy’s core are the dual aims of better mental health for past, this area of medicine has too often been overlooked, but we all; and that more people with mental health problems will recover. cannot afford to ignore it any longer - mental health issues cost the Although it was well received, there was a clear consensus that economy around £105.2 billion each year, with this figure expected to further work was needed to translate it into definitive action. double in the next 20 years. The framework has been co-produced with five national And in 2010/11, the NHS spent £11.91 billion on mental health mental health organisations – Mind, Rethink Mental Illness, NHS disorders – so whichever way you cut it these figures represent a Confederation mental health network, Turning Point and the Centre startling amount, and this is before you even try to factor in the for Mental Health – and as a result it is a stronger, more credible human cost. document. It is a challenge for all of us. For our society as a whole. It is the ‘excuse remover’, setting out what local organisations can The Coalition Government has already taken some big steps do to provide better prevention, treatment and support for those to tackle mental illness and promote mental health, with more people with mental health issues, ensuring that mental health is investment in services, treatment and support. everyone’s business. It also outlines what national organisations are doing to help, and how progress will be measured and reported. For example, in the last two years the number of people entering It is addressed to a full range of organisations able to improve Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services has mental health – from clinical commissioning groups to schools and almost tripled, from 182,000 in 2009/10 to 528,000 in 2011/12. This employers – and has a particular focus on the groups that can make year alone we will spend £32 million to train new therapists to meet the greatest difference. that demand and over four years, the total investment will be more

than £400 million. This article was written when Paul Burstow was Minister for Social Care Services

www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 37 Supporting individuals with a mental health condition to remain in work Only 20% of people with severe mental health problems and 50% of those with less serious problems are in paid employment, yet 80% want to work*… With a little extra support, we are proving that they can!

The Workplace Mental • Tailored support for six Health Support Service months from fully trained Case study: is funded by Government professionals Julie was diagnosed with stress, and available for individuals • Help to identify anxiety and depression. She was with a mental health successful coping at risk of losing her job as a condition who are facing strategies result. difficulties in doing their job, or are absent from work as • Advice on workplace Remploy supported Julie by; a result of their condition.** adjustments identifying coping strategies to • Help for employers help her manage her conditions The aim of the service is to at work, providing confidence and support people to take to understand what support they can provide self-esteem boosters, working control of their condition in (with the individual’s with her employer to put the workplace and remain permission). adjustments in place and positive and productive signposting her to support in their role. To help groups. individuals to lead full and independent lives, The support has helped Julie to our service provides: overcome her difficulties at work. She is feeling much more confident, her performance has improved and she is enjoying going to work each day.

“Your help has been a life-line. The issues at work with how quickly I was working and what was left to do have been resolved. I am much more positive about work,” said Julie. Come and see us at our stand at the GovKnow Mental Health Conference

in London on 16 October 2012! Individuals must self-refer to this service, which is delivered by Remploy For further information on this service, in partnership with Access to Work; please contact us on: a Jobcentre Plus scheme. Tel: 0845 146 0501 Email: [email protected] www.remploy.co.uk/mentalhealth * Source: Shift.org - 2004 ** Eligibility criteria apply Ref. 1162 Loneliness - as bad for us as smoking

The recent Social Care White Paper from the to make the difference between an older person Westminster Government recognises that loneliness leaving hospital successfully or being readmitted and social isolation remain a huge problem that within a short space of time. They make the society has failed to tackle. The Paper cites that more difference between depression/isolation and leading than two million people over the age of 65 in the a healthier, involved life. UK report feeling trapped at home or feeling lonely, By mobilising a volunteer army to provide the kind of potentially leading to poor physical and mental preventative services and early interventions that help health, including depression. older people stay happy and independent in their The Westminster Government concedes that social own homes, we can radically reduce the burden on isolation is not something that they can tackle on the NHS and have a positive impact on older people’s their own. Effective action will require state services well-being. and the voluntary sector to work closely together. This is why WRVS is calling for a cohesive, coherent This is a view supported by the Campaign To End plan of action that brings corporate and volunteer Loneliness, who have shown that loneliness has a organisations together to provide practical solutions similar impact on mortality as smoking, and is worse to caring for older people. for us than obesity. Loneliness also has signiﬁcant links to hypertension, depression, and increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Loneliness has a disease by 50% - all of which have ﬁnancial implications similar impact on for our health and social care mortality as smoking, systems. and is worse for us The need for reform of adult social care is not in dispute. than obesity. The introduction, for example, of a duty on local authorities to commission and provide preventive services, which will form part of the draft Care and Support Bill, is an important step forward. The White Paper and the draft Bill provide a once in a generation opportunity to begin to address the shortcomings of the current system. However there are simpler actions that can be implemented now. Services such as befriending, community transport

WRVS, Beck Court, Cardiff Gate Business Park, Cardiff CF23 8RP Tel 02920 739 000 Fax 02920 73 9 111 Registered charity 1015988 & SC038924 ©WRVS 2012 02920 739 000 Fax 73 9 111 Registered CF23 8RP Tel Gate Business Park, Cardiff WRVS, Beck Court, Cardiff and home-from-hospital support are often all it takes

To ﬁnd out more about how WRVS is already working in partnership with local authorities and health trusts to achieve these aims, please contact Zena Cairns, Head of Business Development on 07714 898 565 or visit wrvs.org.uk/get-involved/work-in-partnership

Politics first advertorial_v1.indd 1 30/08/2012 16:12 CORRIDORS: Securing pensions for

today and tomorrow

Steve Webb, Minister for Pensions “This April saw the biggest cash increase ever in the value of the basic pension”

That decline in the value of the pension meant that people were at risk of falling below the poverty line if they did not have other pension savings on top of the basic state pension. As a result, successive governments put more and more money into the means-tested side of retirement provision – first Income Support, then the ‘Minimum Income Guarantee’ and then Pension Credit. Each scheme was more generous but also much more complicated than the one that it replaced. On the face of it, focusing money on poorer pensioners would seem to make sense. But that policy has two fundamental flaws. The first is that means-testing is not very effective at reaching those most in need. Some means-tested benefits for pensioners, such as the savings credit, reach less than half of those who are entitled. So although in theory no pensioner need live below a certain minimum level, in reality many hundreds of thousands do so, simply because they fail to get what they are entitled to. A second and more fundamental problem with mass means- ith the Government looking to save over £80 billion testing is that it destroys the reward for saving. If saving a small per year in public spending, no group in society is amount through a pension or a savings account simply means Wgoing to be unaffected. But in line with the Coalition you are deprived of the means-tested benefits you would have Agreement, the Government has taken the costly decision to got anyway, why would anyone bother to save? In some cases protect the basic state pension. Indeed, not only has the pension people’s savings were being offset pound-for-pound by reductions been protected, it will be progressively improved through the in means-tested benefits, and many people who had saved ‘triple lock’ promise to raise the pension every year by the highest were bitter when they realised that they might as well have not of the growth in earnings or prices, with a minimum increase of bothered. 2.5 per cent. That is why reversing the long-term decline of the state So why is that policy such a priority for the Coalition, especially pension has been a priority for the Coalition. This April saw the at a time when money is so tight? biggest cash increase ever in the value of the basic pension, and it To understand why we need to prioritise the basic state is already a higher share of national average earnings than at any pension, you need to look back over the last three decades. time since before 1997. Back in 1980, Margaret Thatcher ‘broke the earnings link’ However, that does not mean that pensioners have been with the basic state pension. In the late 1970s, the pension had exempt from tough choices on public spending. The Government kept up with the growth in average earnings, which meant that has scaled back the complex ‘savings credit’, reducing planned pensioners would no longer fall behind the living standards of spending on means-tested benefits for pensioners. Perhaps more the working age population. But Mrs Thatcher decided that that importantly, many pensioners depend heavily on local authority was too expensive, and a policy of increasing pensions only in line services which have had to be limited in response to the general with inflation was introduced that was to last under successive squeeze on public spending. So it would be wrong to suggest Conservative and Labour governments for the following 30 years. that pensioners have somehow been ring-fenced from the squeeze. The effect of that policy on the value of the pension was devastating. Back in 1980, the basic state pension stood at But what the Government has done is to make its priority clear. roughly a quarter of national average earnings. By the time of the A decent state pension for today’s pensioners as well as pension 2010 election, it had fallen to nearer one sixth. The whole point reform for the next generation to make sure that saving pays. of pensions is to help you maintain your standard of living when Even at a time of austerity it is possible to do good things in you no longer have a wage. If the value of the pension becomes priority areas, and I believe our commitment to the state pension disconnected from the value of average wages, it ceases to do its is an example of that principle. job properly.

40 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk ADVERTORIAL What’s the reality of Public sector pension reform?

By Susan Martin, Deputy Chief Executive of the London Pensions Fund Authority, a leader in public sector third party pension administration, consultancy services and training. Susan is also a Board Member and Pensions Lead for PPMA the voice of public sector HR. t’s not always easy to extract the reality from there are high standards of record keeping and ef- stories around pensions in the public sector, but fective systems which can provide comprehensive Iit would be fair to say there is a consensus that and accurate information. reform is needed to ensure they continue to provide affordable and sustainable pensions in the future. There is a need for effective communication to members so that the changes are properly under- There will undoubtedly be changes to contribution stood. For instance the move from a final salary rates, retirement ages and benefits levels which will scheme to a career average one will affect each affect members of these schemes in different ways member differently. If communication is poor or muddled there is a danger of people believing the The first misconception has been that public sector ‘pay more’, ‘work longer’ ‘get less’ philosophy. This pensions are “gold plated”. The Lord Hutton report could lead to members opting out of schemes in the found that the average public sector pension in future if it is thought they no longer represent good 2009/10 was just £4,052. This myth has had a sig- value. The news that staff who transfer under ‘Fair nificant amount of air time and column inches in the Deal’ will continue to have access to public service past and has not helped to generate open and hon- pension schemes will help maintain membership est debate on the need for reform. There does now levels. though appear to be an understanding that the vast majority of public sector employees do not benefit Getting the message out that a public service pen- to such an extent which can only help progress the sion is a tax efficient way of saving, with life cover changes. included as well as a significant contribution from their employer is becoming ever more important. Another misconception is that there is such a thing The London Pensions Fund Authority is harness- as a single public sector pension scheme. There ing social media such as Twitter and You Tube to are in fact many schemes, some covering pro- explain the changes and to encourage people to fessions – such as teachers – and some run by join and remain in the schemes. employers, such as the individual local authority pension schemes. Local Authority schemes are also Whether efficiencies, improved access to informa- funded schemes which differentiate them form the tion and first class communication can be achieved other ‘pay as you go schemes’ in the public sector. through increased co-operation or whether there is case for merging the administrative functions in Each scheme has now submitted its preferred the LGPS into regional bodies is an issue that is design, taking account of the cost envelope, to the currently up for debate. The possible benefits of government and negotiations continue as to the amalgamating the pension funds themselves to re- precise detail to be introduced from 2015, although duce management charges and ensure governance LGPS reform is planned to be in place by 2014. of the scheme as a whole is at the same high levels as the best funds currently achieve is also under These changes will lead to additional complexity for discussion. those who administer the scheme given the ‘protected’ status of benefits already accrued. For public sector schemes and their members there are challenging times ahead. The early signs are The administrative complexity should not be under- encouraging as all parties are committed to finding estimated and there will be a real need for expert solutions that best meet the priorities identified by and competent pension administrators to ensure Lord Hutton. CORRIDORS: Forging innovation between

universities and industry

David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities & Science “Universities and industry working together are making a substantial contribution to the UK’s economic growth”

Universities and industry working together are making a substantial contribution to the UK’s economic growth. The latest analysis shows that external income to the higher education sector from business and other users has continued to increase, despite the challenging economic environment, to over £3.3 billion. Universities’ income from contract research has grown by over 50 per cent from £688 million in 2003-04 to over £1 billion in 2010-11. They also help businesses by providing high-tech, cutting-edge equipment – from digital media facilities to wind tunnels – and received £129 million in 2010-11 from business and other users for the use of facilities and equipment. Universities are also stepping up to support businesses to grow in their local regions. Close to my constituency Havant, the University of Portsmouth is a key partner in “Bridging the Gap”, a new fund for SMEs and start-up businesses in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas. The Bridging the Gap scheme will award grant funding to entrepreneurs and SMEs with the best new business and growth proposals, with the university providing mentoring, business support and networking opportunities. niversities’ role in innovation is vital. Their fundamental Funded from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, the fund purpose is as creators and transmitters of knowledge, but will lever in over £1 million additional private sector investment to Uthey also link businesses with the research base and with the regional economy. the wider innovation ecosystem. We are promoting that crucial role. Furthermore, universities are finding new and innovative ways to work together with industry. The N8 Research Partnership’s There are about 1.7 million academic articles published around new Industry Innovation Forum brings together a powerful the world, of which about 120,000 come from UK research. The network of research intensive universities in the North of England, Government believes that published research material which has SMEs and global firms involved in research and development. been publicly financed should be publicly accessible. We recently It currently has two centres that work with business, one on announced how businesses and the public will get easier access regenerative medicine and the other on nanotechnology. Both to that, keeping the UK at the forefront of global research to drive are focussed on bringing research through to market, and innovation and growth. between them they have generated over £20 million of research The circulation of highly skilled people is also key to promoting income since 2007 and worked with over 130 businesses. innovation between academia and industry. We are broadening Another great example is the new centre for engineering the training of researchers so they have more opportunities than focusing on interdisciplinary research relevant to the construction ever before to experience the world of business. The Research industry, established by Laing O’Rourke and the University Councils have increased their investment in collaborative training, of Oxford. The centre will provide a dynamic environment, which involves private, public or charity research, partners by a unburdened by the usual corporate distractions that exist in large fifth. organisations, providing the brightest engineering minds with the The Government is investing £200million in a network of freedom to explore and innovate for the benefit of our industry Catapult Centres to help bridge the gap between university and society at large. research and industry. Each will focus on a specific technology Global firms are also choosing to work, collaborate and co- where there is a potentially large global market and a significant locate with UK universities because of our research excellence. UK capability such as such as cell therapy, the connected digital Recently, BP, after a global search for a location for its new $100 economy and off-shore renewable energy. The first Catapult, in million international research centre, chose the University of high value manufacturing, opened for business in October 2011, Manchester because of its world-leading capabilities and facilities and six others in development will open in 2013. in advanced materials.

42 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk Partnering Britain in

the world

Dr Jo Beall, Director of Education and Society at the British Council “Producing timely and topical research is crucial”

conference in Dubai, to debate the theme: “Global education: knowledge-based economies for 21st century nations”. The conference will focus on how tertiary education systems can produce cutting edge research and skilled knowledge workers, both fit for purpose in a globalised world. To be at the heart of this ambition, the UK must understand the policies needed to provide world-class research and innovation partnerships; the role in these of businesses and investors; and the value of collaboration across national boundaries to support major innovation and competent knowledge workers. Producing timely and topical research is crucial if we are to answer these questions. Last December, the British Council asked the UK’s business leaders what skills the next generation needed if the UK was to continue to compete in the global economy. The findings suggested that our next generation was ill-equipped in both attitude and opportunity to seize global opportunities. Subsequently, we have commissioned fresh research on the topic across ten more countries, to investigate whether the scenario overnments have long used their attractiveness to in the UK is unique, or similarities exist in other major economies international students and researchers as a measure of a around the world. Gnation’s global standing but, in the 21st century, it is global knowledge partnerships that matter. The results will be launched at “Going Global” in 2013. The UK must address that issue because, as the “Shape of things to A truly effective and efficient knowledge economy that come” research revealed this year, the boom in international produces the innovation, growth and social wellbeing we need student recruitment is over. So given that our employers see it cannot be simply regional or national. So whilst attracting the as crucial for young British students to gain international skills, best international talent should continue to be a priority for the with this avenue diminishing, what other ways can the UK grow in UK, the British Council believes that the UK must place itself in internationalising and connecting our sector? the heart of the new global knowledge economy, which means equipping our people and institutions with the right skills, and The British Council is committed to producing knowledge connecting them to the best partnerships and networks in the economy partnerships that connect the UK’s expertise with world in which to deploy them. emerging markets. That work is forging strong and sustainable education and research partnerships for the UK in India, China, The British Council’s recent research on the future of East Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. For example, in international tertiary education, “The shape of things to come”, Guangzhou, China, we have linked the UK’s industrial design highlights a very different global landscape from 2020; one in education sector with Chinese businesses, universities and which the rapidly emerging economies of the East and South government efforts to support the upcycling of industrial by- are replacing the West’s dominance of the world’s research products, a huge challenge for ‘the factory of the world’. and innovation base. How can the UK compete in this new landscape? We believe that the UK must move from being simply The British Council is one of a number of organisations working a destination of choice for ambitious students, to the partner of to position the UK and the British economy abroad, and plays a choice for ambitious governments, trans-national businesses, and vital role in working with young people and building long-term research institutions. relationships and connections. The partnership with Guangzhou is a prime example of how the UK’s traditional areas of strength The British Council is already supporting that move. Our can be used innovatively and creatively with emerging markets to convening power has meant that “Going Global”, our annual create new ideas, partnerships, trust and economic opportunity. international tertiary education conference since 2004, has The British Council’s unrivalled ability to connect, convene and developed in to the world’s biggest gathering of the sector’s help leverage sustained benefits for the UK is best expressed, I leaders. This March, over 1,300 Ministers, Vice-Chancellors and believe, through links into new horizons for young people in the business leaders came to London, from over eighty countries. 21st century global knowledge economy. In March 2013, we are taking the UK to the world, hosting the www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 43 GK_HalfA4_editorial_chester_print.pdf 1 24/08/2012 16:46

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Contact: Marcus Papadopoulos, Publisher/Editor [email protected], 07972374529, www.politicsfirst.org.uk Enabling Britain to

compete globally

John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skill and Lifelong “This Government Learning has created more apprenticeships than modern Britain has ever seen”

route of progression in the apprenticeship system. Furthermore, we are introducing 25,000 Higher Apprenticeships, up to degree level, which will help redefine our understanding of higher learning. Thirdly, I want to see those who take the practical path enjoy symbols of status as seductive as those who take the academic one. That is why we are publishing the achievements of high level apprentices, and have introduced award ceremonies. And a new scheme has been launched that gives Apprentices access to the benefits of an NUS card. But I want to go further. To harness the glories of our practical and technical accomplishments we must come together to create institutions that, as custodians of our past, can help us shape a confident future. We need to create what could best be described as ‘institutional anchors’ for our system of practical education – bringing together employers and employees in a shared understanding of technical accomplishment. Fourthly, we must not forget the role that informal learning plays in teaching skills. Acquiring skills may make our lives more anny Boyle and the organisers of the Olympic opening prosperous but it always makes our lives fuller. Learning for its own ceremony had a near impossible task on their hands: how to sake develops the personal skills and self-esteem that can help represent British society in a way that had most resonance D people onto the first step on the ladder towards structured learning and meaning? At the heart of the ceremony they conceived was a and sustainable employment. vision of a country transformed by technical innovation. Informal learning often leads to other things, too – new friends, Higher skills are vital to the kind of economy we want to build new leisure interests, community action, hobbies that become for the future. As Lord Leitch and others have argued, the higher successful small businesses or volunteering that turns into job the skills levels in the economy, the more they add to the value opportunities. of products and services. And research has shown that having a good stock of skills helps businesses move to higher value product That is why at a time when fiscal retrenchment has been an urgent strategies when the opportunities emerge. necessity, we have protected the budget for informal learning. I have also launched a review of the way learning is provided to ensure its There are many things that Government can do, and that this effectiveness and that it reaches the most marginalised members of Government is doing, to build the world class skills Britain needs our society. to compete. The first is to continue and to intensify our efforts to re-establish apprenticeships as the primary form of practical training. Finally, it is time to recognise the significance of the great This Government has created more apprenticeships than modern unheralded triumph of our education system, FE Colleges. Their Britain has ever seen. And this growth is not just in the traditional capacity to innovate was limited by the target driven, bureaucratic, craft sectors but in the new crafts, too – in advanced engineering; IT; micro-management which characterised the last Government’s the creative industries; and in financial services. approach to skills; by contrast, this Government is freeing Colleges to innovate and excel, and rolling back red tape and regulation. Secondly, the vocational route must be a highway, not a cul-de- sac. Alison Wolf’s astute report into vocational education concludes There is certainly an economic imperative for the change I want that, sadly, under the system the current Government inherited, for to see. Valuing practical skills is vital to our future because we many young people that is far from the case; too many students are simply cannot afford to waste the talents of so many of our people. on programmes that score well on league tables but do not result in Training improves productivity and so increases competitiveness. higher education or stable paid employment. So, we are ensuring But advancing a sound economic case alone is not enough. The that those qualifications that do not provide for progression no social case for skills is critical to making society bigger: recognising longer count towards the measurement of school performance. the currency of craft matters because when each feel valued, all feel valued. Spreading opportunity builds community wellbeing and Potential learners must also know that an apprenticeship is a route nourishes shared values. to high-level skills. That is why I am working to create a much clearer www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 45 CORRIDORS: Education begins in the

school building

Lisa Nandy, Labour MP for Wigan “There is a moral case for prioritising new schools”

new schools, saving Councils the cost of repairs at a time when their budgets are under unprecedented pressure, and helping to stimulate the economy, particularly the construction industry which is in need of a boost. More importantly, there is a moral case for prioritising new schools. Children only have one education, and they cannot wait. While Ministers have dithered, up and down the country, including in my own constituency, children are being taught in cramped, freezing and in some cases downright dangerous buildings, putting extra pressure on teachers and children alike. In the final, eagerly anticipated announcement, only 261 schools got the go-ahead, less than half who applied to the scheme and a drop in the ocean compared to the predecessor BSF programme which planned to cover all secondary schools in England – around 15 times as many schools as will now get help. The Government’s claim that the Priority Schools Programme represents good value for money also warrants scrutiny. To p and down the country, schools have been waiting for date, there has been no serious analysis of the cost of scrapping several years to hear whether they have the go-ahead for BSF, but cancellation charges and legal proceedings brought desperately needed new buildings. This July, the lucky ones U by a number of local authorities because of the chaotic way finally got the green light. the programme was axed, are likely to have been significant. The new programme replaces Labour’s Building Schools for the Ministers have consistently refused to provide me with any Future (BSF) programme which was axed amid huge controversy estimate of those costs so it is impossible to accurately calculate two years ago. The Government’s argument, that BSF was the true cost of replacing BSF with the new scheme. needlessly expensive, is something the Shadow Education The new scheme is 100 per cent Private Finance Initiative Secretary Stephen Twigg has acknowledged, estimating that funded. Over the last few years, serious concerns have been reducing bureaucracy could have saved an estimated £2 billion raised about PFI schemes, because the public sector continues from the £55 billion programme. to bear the risk, and shoulders the costs when things go wrong. Instead, the Government has chosen to go much further, Recently, it was revealed that South London Healthcare, a merger cutting spending on the school capital programme at twice the of three hospital trusts, is spending 14 per cent of its income Whitehall average. That is despite the fact that the need for new on repayments to a PFI. As such, it is far too early for Ministers buildings is severe. The lack of primary places in particular is to claim that the new scheme represents good value for the already a crisis in some parts of the country. By 2015, half a million taxpayer. new primary places will be needed, and yet Labour’s Primary Any real test of value for money is whether the new schools Capital Programme has been axed. that are built are fit for purpose and to a high standard. For all its At the same time, Ministers have found over £500 million criticisms, the schools built under Building Schools for the Future to establish new free schools, a pet project of the Education were of an astonishingly high quality, providing sports, arts and Secretary. Those schools are largely based in areas where there is science facilities that were first class. That investment sent a no need for new places, and they are, so far, focused on secondary strong signal to children about their own worth to society. Given rather than primary education. Their introduction and promotion that many of those schools were purposefully built in areas with has been extremely costly for the Department for Education, high levels of deprivation, for many of those children those new which, taken alongside the record cuts to spending on existing facilities were a revelation, and a source of renewed confidence schools and the crisis in providing places, shows a shocking lack of and optimism. commitment to children’s education. This Government’s approach is to strip away minimum It has taken Ministers two years to come up with an alternative standards for new schools, while at the same time slashing to BSF, with announcements promised and delayed several spending. Achieving value for money is to be applauded, but times. It would have made good economic sense to prioritise devaluing this generation and their education is not.

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www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 47 CORRIDORS: Leading fisheries to a

sustainable future

Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and “The European Common Fisheries Fisheries Policy is broken beyond repair”

role in the negotiations and can successfully influence the crucial debates between European Fisheries Ministers and members of the European Parliament at a European level. My efforts have focussed on addressing the three worst failings of the CFP: the disgraceful practice of throwing away dead fish (known as ‘discarding’); the inability to tackle over-fishing; and the unnecessary micro-management from Brussels. UK leadership has meant that real progress on all of those issues has been made, reflected in agreement at Fisheries Council this June to a so called ‘General Approach’. That is the start of delivering the detailed reforms needed to address the CFP’s failings. Rightly and understandably, the waste of fish caused by discarding has captured the attention of the British public. I want this practice to end as soon as possible. Although not all Member States share my ambition for urgent ver the last two and a half years as the UK Fisheries action, I have secured agreement to end discarding, and a Minister, I have spent a lot of time on the coast, meeting provisional timetable to do so. That is a major step in the right Othe people who live and work there, and learning about direction. the challenges that face Britain’s fishermen. Over many years, ineffective, centralised micro-management When I talk to fishermen from all over the UK, I am been struck of the CFP has seen the same rules applied from the sub-Arctic to by their passion and commitment, driven by their love of the sea the Mediterranean. That does not make sense. and the traditional culture they represent. Fish do not respect lines on maps and so cooperation between It is difficult to underplay the importance of fishing to so many countries that fish the same sea basin will always be vital. of the UK’s coastal towns and villages, and the many thousands The reform the UK has been pushing for will see most of the of jobs it supports in areas where other opportunities may be few decisions taken only by countries that fish in particular waters. and far between. That will have fishermen at the heart of the decision-making The main tool that exists to manage our fisheries, the process so as to ensure that the decisions made are practical and European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), is widely regarded as not remote from the realities and complexities of our multi- not having worked. I would go further. In my view, it is broken species fisheries. beyond repair. It has failed our fishermen, it has failed the Last, but by no means least, over-fishing has been a central marine environment it is meant to protect, and it has failed our failing of the current CFP and I have been adamant that the fish stocks. It needs radical reform, and my top priority since reform includes a clear legal commitment, with deadlines, to becoming Fisheries Minister has been to reform this failed fish sustainably (achieving “Maximum Sustainable Yield”), in line policy and negotiate a new CFP which will deliver a prosperous with international commitments. If it can be achieved, Fisheries fishing industry, sustainable fish stocks and a healthy marine Ministers will, for the first time, have made a legally binding environment. commitment to setting fishing levels at sustainable levels. The importance of the current negotiations must not be Significant progress towards reform has been made. However, underestimated. Opportunities to reform the CFP come along we must not be complacent and there is much work still to do. only once in a decade. I am now focussed on the European Parliament, who share And while the case for change is clearly overwhelming, there responsibility with the Council, for reforming the CFP. have been many differing views on how to solve the problems, including calls from some quarters for even more centralised I will continue to work closely with MEPs to achieve the intervention and controls. changes to the CFP that are so clearly needed to deliver our ambitions and provide a sustainable future for our fishing It is my responsibility to make sure that the UK plays a lead industry.

48 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk In Defence of the

Hunting Act

Mary Creagh, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and “The Hunting Act says a Rural Affairs lot about the country we are”

polls show that the vast majority of people do not want to see hunting wild mammals with dogs legalised. This ongoing public support for the ban demonstrates the British sense of fair play and our concern for animal welfare. And in Parliament, even with a Tory-led coalition government, a majority of MPs do not want to see the ban repealed. Alongside the hunting ban, the Labour Government banned fur farming and stopped the testing of cosmetics and tobacco on animals. We also passed the Animal Welfare Act (2006), the most wide ranging piece of animal welfare legislation for a century. In contrast, this government has refused to ban wild animals in circuses, despite a unanimous vote in Parliament. It has cut funding for the police Wildlife Crime Unit and is pressing ahead with a badger cull in England this autumn, despite clear scientific evidence that it will reduce bovine TB by just 16 per cent in affected areas after nine years. t is now seven years since Labour banned the hunting of wild Where do we go from here? mammals with dogs for sport in England and Wales. That Ifollowed a decision to end hunting in Scotland in 2002. The The Tory-led Government has eroded the progress that argument was clearly won in Parliament and in the country. Yet Labour made in animal welfare. The Conservative manifesto the dinosaur wing of the Conservative Party cannot let it lie. declared the Hunting Act ‘unworkable’ and promised a free vote on the issue, with a government bill, over the lifetime of this The Hunting Act (2004) was a landmark piece of legislation. Parliament. In 1999, Labour Ministers commissioned the Burns Inquiry to undertake a comprehensive review of hunting and its impact David Cameron re-iterated that promise on Countryfile in on rural life, to ensure the broadest consensus for a ban. It January, calling the ban “bizarre” and saying it took “criminal concluded that “the economic effects of a ban on hunting were law into an area of activity where it didn’t really belong.” unlikely to be substantial.” The Prime Minister is a supporter of hunting with dogs, You can see that today in the many drag hunts and other although he has studiously avoided being photographed out recreational pursuits that have thrived since the ban. Those who riding, ever since the politically toxic photo of him on Raisa, were against the ban warned of dire consequences for the rural Rebecca Brookes’ retired police horse came to light. economy. Talk of repealing the ban is a sop to his right wing supporters But the challenges facing rural communities – the cost of living in the pro-hunting lobby. Privately however, he must wonder crisis, cuts to bus services, high unemployment - come from the whether repeal is politically deliverable, given the new era of policies of this out of touch government, not the hunting ban. fractiousness with the Lib Dems after the debacle on Lords reform. Those who seek to repeal the ban say it is an ineffective law. Yet over two hundred people have been convicted of hunting The Government really is out of touch if it believes that offences since the Act, and one man has been convicted twice. hunting is a priority for Parliament. There have been convictions for hunting foxes and deer and We need to concentrate on the real issues of creating green for hare coursing. It is not a question of pest control, since jobs and growth and getting the economy working for working only a small number of foxes killed each year were hunted people again. with hounds, or of pitting town against countryside, since the Fox hunting and hare coursing have no place in modern majority of rural dwellers support the ban. Britain. The Hunting Act says a lot about the country we are. The Despite the loud noises made by those who continue to hunt, fact that the Tories want to repeal it says a lot about them, and the law is more popular today than it has ever been. Opinion the country they wish to see. www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 49 CORRIDORS: No backdoor privatisation

for our forests

Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion “PFI for the PFE would represent privatisation by another means”

alarm bells for anyone familiar with the language of the free market. Responding to my recent Parliamentary Question on the issue, Defra minister Richard Benyon refused to rule out the use of private finance initiatives (PFI) in the management of the forests – adding to concerns that the debate has not moved on at all. There can be little doubt that PFI for the PFE would represent privatisation by another means. Therefore the same questions remain: if private interests manage the PFE, what guarantees will there be to ensure public access or safeguard biodiversity? Unless companies were to be allowed to maximise their profits from our woods and forests by charging directly for access and recreation opportunities, or adding insensitive and inappropriate developments, what private owner seeking a short-term return on their investment would take on such superficially unprofitable land? he Government performed a spectacular u-turn on selling Yet our public woods and forests represent a long-term national off the Public Forest Estate, but private funding is now back asset and a real bargain for the taxpayer, who currently makes Ton the agenda. up the shortfall of just £16 million annually to manage the entire estate of 1,500 woods and forests. That amounts to a little less When the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs than 30p a year for each of us. announced plans to put the Public Forest Estate up for sale last year, all hell broke loose. More than half a million people signed a In a survey carried out for the campaign group, Our Forests, 38 Degrees petition in protest, with criticism of the ill-considered nearly 90 per cent of respondents felt that the PFE merited proposals echoing across the political spectrum. on-going taxpayer support, with over 65 per cent prepared to contribute at least £5 annually. It really was a classic case of selling off the family silver, confirming many people’s worst fears about the consequences of With such a high level of public consent, why seek to introduce the Conservative obsession with stripping the state of its assets. private finance into the equation? It is not as if PFI comes with an outstanding track record. In fact, in many instances, it has been Eventually, the Coalition caved in to public pressure and nothing short of a disaster. dropped the plans – a huge win for the energetic civil society campaign. Recent analysis by the Guardian of Treasury figures relating to PFI show that the overall cost to the taxpayer of the 717 PFI In the aftermath of that whole debacle, to try to salvage its contracts currently under way in the UK’s schools, hospitals and reputation Defra set up the Independent Forestry Panel (IFP) to other public facilities will reach £301 billion by the time they have review the future of publicly-owned woodlands in England and been paid off. That does not look like value for money to me. Wales. In its final report this July, the Panel concluded that forests should be held in a trust for the public good and not sold off. Our forests and woods need a positive, long-term, sustainable approach to boost employment in forestry and forest crafts, The Government’s official response is due next year, but the protect and restore ancient woodlands, and plant more native then Secretary of State Caroline Spelman admitted that she and broadleaf woods. At present, it seems that only public “agree(s) with the Panel that the Public Forest Estate should ownership can offer that kind of vision – maintaining the crucial continue to benefit from public ownership.” stakeholder relationship between the individual and our natural Like all of those who fought the plans for privatisation, I share heritage. those sentiments entirely and welcome her change of heart. With the fate of the PFE still hanging in the balance, we must However, it is not all good news. While the IFP’s report offered guard against further insidious attempts by the Government some reassurance on enduring protection for our public woods to transfer this public asset to private ownership, and seek and forests, its suggestion that the Government could consider assurances that the much-loved and vital public resource of the “appropriate new funding streams” for the Estate should ring Estate is secured for future generations.

50 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk Act now to safeguard

England’s forests

John Dye, President of the Timber Packaging & Pallet “Politicians have a key Confederation (TIMCON) role to play by changing the current disastrous subsidy regime for biomass”

In the short-term, there are currently not enough supplies available to satisfy demand for established timber-based manufacturing industries such as ours as well as the large biomass plants. Subsidising those large energy operations damages the environment by creating a situation where virgin timber is more likely to be burnt inefficiently as biomass fuel rather than used to make carbon-storing products. Subsidies are damaging the economy as they artificially increase the price of timber, which diverts essential supplies from manufacturing, and escalates the costs of business-critical and environmentally friendly products such as timber pallets and packaging, which are excellent examples of products that can be repeatedly recovered, repaired and recycled so as to maximise carbon storage. Policy must focus on encouraging existing uses for timber, so his July, DEFRA published its report by the Independent Panel it is used for many years and the maximum benefit taken of its carbon on Forestry, which recommends that the land cover of forests storing, before it is utilised as fuel at the end of its useful life. Tshould be increased from 10 per cent of England’s total land The subsidy system has been set up with very little consideration area to 15 per cent by 2060. of the availability of biomass as these plants require up to four Although TIMCON would like to see that target achieved earlier million tonnes of wood every year. It is a substantial threat to British than 2060, the report’s findings are an encouraging first step towards manufacturing businesses and the environment. The alternative of government recognising the sizeable contribution that forests and the importing vast volumes of timber from the Americas has obvious UK’s forest-based industries make to our economy and environment. environmental and economic disadvantages. Alongside our colleagues in the sustainable forest-based sectors, The wood-based industries encompass the UK’s most sustainable the timber pallet and packaging industry has been working hard to and environmentally friendly companies, and provide a substantial communicate the significant advantages of using wood. level of employment – significantly more than provided by the biomass industry, for example. There are approximately 30,000 Our key points are simple: timber is the most environmentally jobs provided by our sector alone. Together, we want to ensure that friendly material compared to alternative materials such as plastics - it politicians, our customers and the general public understand the great is produced in sustainable, managed forests and absorbs and stores benefits of manufacturing with wood - and the huge damage the carbon from the atmosphere as it grows; timber is reusable, repairable current regime of subsidising biomass could have. and recyclable and it stores carbon until the end of its life cycle; and timber is the most economically viable material, often several times The Independent Panel on Forestry has produced an invaluable cheaper than a plastic alternative report, which highlights the vital role that our domestic woodland has to play, from the point of view of the UK economy, leisure activities We are also lobbying hard on the policy of subsidies for large and care for the environment, to name just three. We fully endorse biomass electricity plants. We are urging the Government to review the report’s recommendation of re-assessing the benefits of English that urgently. forests and expanding the amount of planted area significantly. That sets the scene for preserving essential supplies of timber for While the UK can accommodate smaller biomass plants for heat, manufacturing and raising the profile of forestry, which is undoubtedly which burn a few hundred tonnes of timber each year and operate one of the country’s most environmentally friendly industries. at 90 per cent efficiency, the large, biomass-fuelled electricity plants burn up to four million tonnes of wood every year - at just 30 per cent However, there is much more work to be done, and TIMCON will efficiency. That creates a substantial threat to British businesses and continue to collaborate with the UK’s other timber associations to the environment. ensure that the economic and environmental benefits of timber are not only understood, but also acted upon. Politicians have a key The original aim of subsidies was to encourage incremental role to play by changing the current disastrous subsidy regime for harvesting of biomass from thinnings of marginal land in local forests, biomass. which in turn ensures every useful part of a harvested tree is used and helps produce better quality sustainable timber. However, that policy For more information, please visit www.timcon.org, or TIMCON’s pages has evolved; so it now artificially supports the burning of small logs at ePolitix/Politics Home rather than using them as we do in the packaging and pallet industry. www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 51 CORRIDORS: Making the Green Deal a

great deal for Britain

Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change “Customers taking out Green Deal plans are assured of comprehensive protection”

People want to know exactly what they are signing up to so advice from an impartial energy savings helpline and a quality mark (which every Green Deal installer, provider or adviser will have to display) will help them know who and what they can trust. Businesses will have to abide by a code of practice, and register with the Oversight Body that oversees the Green Deal. Written permission will be required before any Green Deal work is done to a property. The finance that people will get on the Green Deal is private finance, so providers will decide on interest rates. The Green Deal Finance Company, which is working to provide finance to a wide customer base, wants to deliver rates of 6-8 per cent, which is below those typical for unsecured personal credit. Green Deals will be good deals. The ‘Golden Rule’, which limits the Green Deal finance to the uildings in the UK are among the least efficient in the estimated bill savings, is a vital protection that also creates a world and account for 43 per cent of the UK’s total natural incentive in the market to keep down costs. Bgreenhouse gas emissions. Millions of homes do not Some people will want to repay a Green Deal early – it is have full double-glazing. More than half do not have enough up to Green Deal providers whether to charge fees for early insulation or an efficient condensing boiler. Most do not even repayment but they may only apply to Green Deals of more have proper heating controls. than 15 years duration, and must be fully disclosed to the Homes and businesses across Britain are wasting energy and customer at the outset. We have ensured that people repaying money, yet demand for energy efficiency measures remains Green Deals early will not be subjected to excessive charges. low. The Green Deal is a hugely exciting new initiative that could This is where the Green Deal comes in – it will remove see British homes and businesses save enough energy to some of the biggest barriers to demand for energy efficiency power 1 million homes by 2020. Currently, 45 different energy solutions, like up front finance, and open up the market for efficient improvements qualify for the Green Deal, ranging more participants and more choice. From early next year, from cavity wall insulation to heating controls, solar devices homes and businesses can make energy saving improvements and new lighting systems. at no upfront cost and pay for some or all of the work done The Green Deal will empower consumers by giving them with expected savings on energy bills. new ways of funding home improvements, and empower The Energy Company Obligation (ECO), a subsidy from businesses by enabling them to compete for energy efficiency energy suppliers, will provide extra help for those most in need opportunities in new and innovative ways. It will boost the and for properties that are harder to treat. low carbon economy by supporting up to 60,000 jobs in the insulation sector alone by 2015, up from around 26,000 today. The Green Deal will be a great deal. It will create more choice for consumers who will get the most cost effective We are also creating 1,000 green apprenticeships and solutions for their property without paying any more for their investing £3.5million to up-skill assessors and installers. energy bills than they do now. I am really looking forward to seeing the Green Deal market What is more, as energy prices are expected to rise over the develop, giving people the opportunity to save money, coming years, households with Green Deals are likely to see improve their homes and help cut our emissions. their savings grow. I have every confidence that it will be a success and play a Importantly, customers taking out Green Deal plans are central role in transforming our buildings, improving energy assured of comprehensive protection. efficiency and helping us reach our ambitious low carbon targets.

52 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk The Green Deal must be

a good deal more

Caroline Flint, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate “We have to ensure help Change reaches those who need it most”

But Ministers have admitted that under their plans, interest rates could be as high as 7.5 per cent - meaning that on a typical Green Deal package, families will end up paying more in repayment charges than for the original measures. For example, a Green Deal package worth £10,000, with an interest rate of 7.5 per cent over 25 years, would cost £22,000 in total to pay back. Only this out of touch Government could believe the public will think that represents a good deal. Finance at those kinds of rates will not be attractive to most people, limiting demand and leaving the Green Deal struggling to get off the ground. To make matters worse, the Government is still intent on including harsh penalty payments for repaying loans early, which will cost consumers thousands of pounds and destroy the public’s trust in the scheme. One solution is the Green Investment Bank. The government announced last year that one of the priorities for the Bank is to provide support for the Green Deal, but they have not specified what form that will take. It is vital that any capital made available is used to secure affordable, attractive interest rates for abour wants the Green Deal to succeed. We had a pay-as- consumers, in order to lower the cost of Green Deal packages. you-save scheme in our manifesto, and it was the last Labour Small businesses should be allowed to complete with bigger Lgovernment that initiated pilot programmes to test the companies on a level playing field. Labour’s vision for the scheme. If done properly, a pay-as-you-save energy efficiency Green Deal is one where small businesses, co-operatives, local scheme could create jobs, lower bills for families and cut carbon authorities, charities and social enterprises are able to compete emissions. But for the Green Deal to work, it must be a good deal, alongside the big six and other large companies that want to take too. part in the scheme. The public want a simple and affordable scheme so they can But the government’s proposals will restrict full access to the improve their home and cut their energy bills. With just a few Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which will provide subsidy weeks until the scheme is due to start, the Government still for energy efficiency measures, to the Big Six energy companies. has much to do to improve the Green Deal to ensure it delivers Those proposals not only limit smaller providers from competing savings for hard-pressed bill payers and offers real incentives so on a level playing field across the whole Green Deal market, but millions of people want to take it up. entrench the dominance of the big six in our energy market. It is not just Labour saying this. In recent months the CBI, Labour wants to see the Green Deal open to all types and sizes of Which?, the Federation of Masters Builders, the Construction providers by allowing fair access to the ECO. Products Association, Green Alliance and even the Government’s Lastly, we have to ensure help reaches those who need it most. own advisors, the Committee on Climate Change, have warned Under the last Labour government, the number of houses in fuel the Green Deal will fail without significant improvements. But the poverty fell by 1.75 million. But with energy bills on the rise, and government just dismisses anyone who suggests improvements, cut to programmes like Warm Front, there are already warnings or raises concerns, as scaremongerers – when in reality, of course, that progress could be reversed. exactly the opposite is true. The real champions of the Green Deal are those of us who are trying to improve it and make it a good Labour believes the funding from the ECO should focus on deal. delivering for low income hard to treat homes, over able-to-pay households. That would drive carbon reduction while ensuring Most importantly, consumers need to be offered affordable that we put those who need help most, first. rates of interest on Green Deal loans. That is absolutely crucial to making the scheme a success. Polling conducted by the With time running out until the Green Deal launches, the Great British Refurb Campaign found that only 7 per cent of government needs to end the uncertainty, stop the infighting and homeowners would be interested in taking up the Green Deal if focus on developing a credible way to deliver new jobs and lower the interest rate is 6 per cent or above. energy bills.

www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 53 CORRIDORS: An out of touch Chancellor

who doesn’t listen

Cathy Jamieson, Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury “Families, businesses and motorists need certainty and stability, especially in these tough times”

The Chancellor was only forced into a hasty and chaotic U-turn when Labour and campaigners promised to force a vote in the House of Commons. At the time, it was called the fasted U-turn in history - but in truth his decision to carry on with the rise in the first place showed just how out of touch this Chancellor is. Since his disastrous budget earlier this year, pressure from the public, industry and Labour has led to the Chancellor into reversals on the ‘pasty tax’, the ‘charity tax’, the ‘caravan tax’ and the ‘skip tax’ – to name but a few. Far from securing the recovery which David Cameron and George Osborne inherited, their failed economic plans, as well as a series of wrong choices and u-turns, has delivered a deep and deepening recession, with prices rising higher than wages, borrowing £150 billion greater than planned, companies going bust and over a million young people out of work. And in the face of increasing criticism, they seem intent

on ploughing ahead with a £40,000 tax cut for millionaires With Britain in the longest and deepest double-dip and an unfair ‘granny tax’ hitting the elderly and retired. recession since the war, we need a Chancellor focused on helping our economy to recover, rather than making things So much for ‘we’re all in it together’. harder for families and businesses. Labour welcomed the climb down from the Chancellor Filling up the family car has become a big drag on on the fuel duty rise. But panic measures based more on household budgets, and the high cost of fuel has an impact the likelihood of losing a vote in the Commons, than on a right across the economy. coherent strategy, from a Chancellor fighting more for his job than for the country, is no way to run an economy. I constantly hear that message from constituents worried about rising prices, and businesses which are finding it Families, businesses and motorists need certainty and harder to cope with sky high energy costs as well higher stability, especially in these tough times. Lurching from costs of transport. one policy reversal to another is doing nothing to promote confidence. We know that difficult decisions are needed to get the deficit down. Unless he can get the economy moving again, the Chancellor will be back at square one as he faces January And I acknowledge that Labour did at times put up fuel 2013 and the next planned fuel duty increase. duty when we were in Government. But we often delayed or cancelled planned duty rises based on the circumstances The Chancellor needs a proper plan for jobs, growth at the time – including at the height of the global financial and the economy, and without that, short term U-turns as crisis -responding to changing national and international with the fuel duty rise will not get the Chancellor out of his events. predicament. In Opposition, before the last General Election, George He needs to listen to the increasing numbers of respected Osborne promised a fair fuel stabiliser. However, in his commentators who are now echoing Labour’s calls for a latest budget as Chancellor, he instead proposed to carry on change. It is time the Chancellor listened and made the with his planned hike in fuel duty, even though we are in the changes we need to get people back into work and our middle of a recession. economy growing again.

54 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk

Over 95% of all that we eat, drink, wear or FairFuelUK, is an enormous movement and build is carried by a commercial vehicle. one that, together with its backers, Every consumer, even those that don’t including the Road Haulage Association, drive, feels the effect of road fuel inflation. the Freight Transport Association, the RAC, Nearly everyone that travels towork feels Aldermore Bank, Palletline PLC and over 310,000 members of the British public; all the squeeze on their disposable income as the price of fuel rises. of whom can bear testament to the fact that high fuel duty is not just an issue for FairFuelUK shares the Government’s view of one section of society or of the economy – a growing economy and a reducing deficit. to a large extent, it is the economy! The central argument behind FairFuelUK is We implore politicians from all Parties to simple and powerful. unite around our call for a cut in Fuel Duty Fuel Duty should be seen asa lever for to help ensure that recovery from the growth; not as a spanner in the works of recession is not stifled. progress. In other words, it is in the interest of both the Government and the Treasury to reduce fuel duty to a level that stimulates growth and thereby yields either the same, or more, overall tax revenue to Government ‘coffers’. We are currently living in a period of double dip recession. Growth flickers in one quarter, only to fade in another. One senses that the Government is becoming ever more desperate in its search for the magic combination of measures that will ignite growth whilst not invalidating the ‘holy grail’ of deficit reduction.

CORRIDORS: A Code of Conduct to

protect the public

Baroness Dianne Hayter, a Labour peer “The financial sector simply must take action to restore confidence”

insiders “excessive levels of compensation” whilst demonstrating “shoddy treatment of customers”. The FSA meanwhile censured Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and RBS for “serous failings” over the sale of completely inappropriate and highly risky interest swaps to small businesses that did not understand the dangers. Unsurprisingly, in the light of those developments, Labour tabled amendments calling for financial advisors and those who care for other people’s money to have a “duty of care” towards their clients, acting in their best interests; for there to be a Code of Conduct for all those working in this sector; for consumers’ representatives to have a say in the regulation of life assurance and with-profits funds; for financial firms to have to abide by the recognised Governance and Stewardship Codes; and for Libor to be regulated. The Government has, unbelievably, rejected every single one of these demands. Despite the £290 million fine on Barclays and the exit of its Chief Executive, Bob Diamond, the government have been inhabiting a strange world of late, as – in the Lords – sees no need for a Professional Code (with its related power we go through the planned splitting up of the Financial Services to strike off those who break it). Other professions have such Authority in the wake of the banking failures of 2008 and after. Codes. The Solicitors’ Code says “you must act with integrity; I you must act in the best interests of each client”, and its “Client’s The Conservatives, in opposition, without a clear idea of Charter” promises always to “put your interests first”. The the best way to regulate, decided that – above all – Labour’s Surveyors’ Ethical Standards promises that each Surveyor will FSA must be broken up. So, in government (and somewhat “act with integrity; provide a high standard of service and take differently from their Opposition plans), they decided to create responsibility”. a Financial Policy Committee (sensible, but hardly needing legislation), a Prudential Regulatory Authority (within the Bank Interestingly, the “Peverel” Housing Group, which ran into of England) and a Financial Conduct Authority (essentially, the trouble with its tenants and lessees, has learnt its lesson, and old FSA minus its prudential function and responsibility for has now produced a “Customer Charter” which promises to insurance). “provide excellent customer service, be open and transparent, demonstrate value for money and consult with customers”. No one seriously thinks this moving of the deckchairs makes much difference. More important is really robust, thorough If those professions, and service providers, can undertake governance of banks and other financial institutions; a return such standards, why not our bankers and insurance companies, of integrity; concern for the customer (rather than just bonus on whose husbandry and honesty our mortgages, pensions and levels); and greater public interest oversight of the whole system. savings depend? So in discussion with bank representatives and investment What is extraordinary is that the government has learnt no managers, as well as many a conservative, I hear “this change lesson from the financial scandals and the plummeting loss of isn’t necessary, but we are where we are, so let’s try and make trust that the public has in the industry. Three quarters of the the government’s new system work”. public want bankers prosecuted. But more important is that the However, as most people were settling down to that task, financial sector simply must take action to restore confidence. along came Libor and, hot on its heels, the interest-swaps The introduction of codes of conduct, and the duty to act in the scandal (insurance mis-sold to small businesses to cover their best interest of consumers, could be a part of this. bank overdrafts). This surely means that a Bill designed to show Shame on the government for denying these changes. It talks the UK would regulate differently to before the world’s financial about the Big Society. What the big society wants is for the little crisis should now be amended to show it will also tackle the lack people – the saver, the pension holder, the borrower – to have of integrity, indeed honesty, within the sector. their money looked after with integrity, and care. Not too much Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, described to ask. And perhaps a return to the real world of defending the those latest revelations as “shoddy and deceitful” which gave interests of consumers and citizens.

56 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk History in the making for

the island of Ireland

Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, Director General of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and a “The message will be in member of Seanad Éireann for Fianna Fáil the handshake, the smile and the empathy”

The decision of CCÉ to bring the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil across the border in 2013 for the first time in its 60 years history is both historic and symbolic. The Fleadh has always been a celebration of personal achievement, inclusiveness and community interaction. When Derry plays host to the Fleadh next year it will open its doors and hearts to 300,000 people who will travel from all parts of the world for this manifestation of talent and unbridled friendship. The Fleadh recognises the richness and uniqueness of Irish community life with its attendant creativity, industry and spirituality. The storyteller, the poet, the musician and the dancer will all reign supreme in the shadow of Derry’s walls. They and their community source of inspiration and creativity are rooted in tradition, which is nourished and cultivated as an unwritten story of who we are as a race; from whence we came and the lofty goals we set ourselves from generation to generation. The significance of our cultural traditions has been acknowledged by many from all walks of life. The former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, put it very succinctly as follows: “There are some who think that Irish music, dance, song and story are the icing on life’s cake and it is true that they give us great days, greater nights and great memories. hroughout the troubles in Northern Ireland there was one But they are not the icing on the cake; they are the leaven, the very constant: the unifying influence of Irish traditional music and rising ingredient itself. From them comes those intangible things other cultural traditions. Both communities could comfortably T that go to make up communal memory, to create identity, to nurture together celebrate those traditions, share common ownership and pride and self-confidence, from them comes the space inside a person send a positive message to the broader public at home and abroad. To that dreams and hopes, that space that the worst of time cannot this end, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann played a prominent role. overwhelm and the best times vindicate.” CCÉ, which was founded in 1951, is Ireland’s foremost cultural Northern Ireland nor the island of Ireland do not exist in isolation movement. The movement came into existence at a time when from the rest of the world. In fact, when representatives of both Ireland was suffering extreme economic deprivation. Hundreds of traditions meet abroad it is those things with which they find common thousands of her young people were leaving for foreign lands. Today, cause, rather than some historical division – perceived or otherwise CCÉ has over 400 branches in 15 countries on 4 continents. It is a – that are paramount. How often I have experienced this whether in matter of pride that the fledgling movement did not succumb to the London, Toronto or New York, or even further afield in China or Japan. despondency which was prevalent at the time of its birth. When people from the four corners of the earth converge on Derry It is a measure of the tenacity of character which was evident in for the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in August 2014 they will bring with CCÉ those 60 years ago that no challenge, no matter how great, is them that sense of oneness – a common humanity respecting and insurmountable given the right attitude of mind and generosity of supporting each other and in tune with their Northern Ireland hosts. spirit. Throughout the turbulent years of recent political history in That will be a unique opportunity full of potential and camaraderie. Ireland, there were many stories of generosity, camaraderie and bridge The message will be in the handshake, the smile and the empathy, building between the different communities. Among those was the serenaded by harmonic musical sounds from doorways, street corners binding influence of our cultural traditions and shared heritage. and laneways that in other times may have been less welcoming Our shared heritage on the island of Ireland, which is rooted in and more hostile. The negative is in the past. The positive is ours at antiquity and much older than our political divisions, is potent and present. We can all share and build the vision for the future. positive. Our bardic icons have recorded, hopefully for posterity, the Let the Fleadh Cheoil in Derry be another milestone in rediscovering great and noble deeds of the past, which tell of the tenacity of the the richness of our diversity; the creativity of a shared community Irish character in the hour of need. The message is timeless. It is only inspiration; and above all our reliance on each other on our journey when we lose contact with our own story of survival and renewal that through life. we diminish the very source of motivation and enablement which is required at all stages of our existence and development. Ar aghaidh leis an gceol! Let the music begin. www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 57

COMMONWEALTH:

Realising the potential Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP, “ Member of the Commonwealth’s Eminent Persons Group

Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and of which I was a member, hoped to address in its 2011 report. We The Commonwealth “ made three main recommendations. Of primary importance was that of provides a huge the appointment of a Commissioner opportunity for close for the Rule of Law, Democracy, and Human Rights, who would submit co-operation independent assessments of human rights violations to the Secretary- internal affairs. CMAG will give further General and Commonwealth Ministerial consideration to the proposal, and Action Group (CMAG). Such an office is report foreign ministers this September. necessary because the work required is too onerous for it to be done by the The other recommendations made secretariat and too politically sensitive more headway, with changes being for it to be done by the Secretary- made to the roles of CMAG and the ismissed by some as a relic of the General. Secretary-General along the lines past, the Commonwealth has a suggested by the EPG. Dvery positive role to play in our Part of the reason why this is too future – but worrying signs of malaise sensitive a role for the Secretary- The EPG report was the beginning of

and drift must first be addressed. That General is because of the nature of an ongoing process, for which I still have GK_A5_editorial_Marcus_print.pdf 1 24/08/2012 10:43 can in part be attributed to neglect of the office’s mandate, which does not high hopes. the institution itself – the size of its oblige the incumbent to publicly draw secretariat does not compare favourably instances of abuses to the public’s Whether or not it is successful will with other international organisations. attention. Although the traditional depend not only on the governments role of a Secretary-General performing of member states, but on also But the key neglect is that of private rather than public diplomacy parliamentarians and ultimately the values that will underpin the is important, the EPG recommended the public ensuring that their desire Commonwealth’s future success, values a greater obligation to make explicit for accountability and transparent that will facilitate the trade and cultural instances of major shortcomings. government is not ignored. exchange that are the organisation’s lifeblood. Our final recommendation was The EPG also called for the publication a change to the role performed by of a Commonwealth Charter, which Suspensions of membership following the Ministerial Action Group, which would for the first time codify the the assumption of power by the military has hitherto only been able to wield organisation’s core values in a single in Pakistan and Fiji demonstrate a the extremely blunt instrument of document, to which governments C

resolve of sorts, but standing up for suspension in the most flagrant would be accountable and which would M abrogation of constitutional provide the focal point for the younger human rights is about more than Y criticising a military coup – it requires responsibility. Instead, CMAG should generation, for whom identification CM systematic procedures for identifying be able to work with countries on with the Commonwealth is weaker than and addressing abuses of many different a case-by-case basis, performing a that of their parents. MY

kinds. rehabilitative function in addition to its CY punitive responsibilities. As a bloc containing two billion CMY The failure to properly condemn people from over 50 countries, the K the well-documented abuses during These recommendations were put to Commonwealth provides a huge the Sri Lankan military offensive in Commonwealth Heads of Government opportunity for close co-operation 2009 shows that the sense of purpose at their meeting in Perth last year, between countries that might not and moral clarity demonstrated by with mixed results. The aspect which otherwise enjoy the fruits that the organisation in its opposition to attracted the most media attention belonging to such an organisation can apartheid is lacking at the present time. was the failure to agree upon the bring. establishment of a Commissioner It was this lack of a sense of common for the Rule of Law, Democracy, and But it is up to all of us –leaders, purpose that the Eminent Persons group Human Rights, due to concerns of parliamentarians, and citizens – to (EPG), chaired by former Malaysian some members about intrusion in their ensure that this potential is realised.

58 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk Launching a Clinical and Community Network to ‘Make Every Contact Count’ AFTER A SUMMER OF STREET PARTIES, achieving health equality for African people. volunteers and Team GB, the value of Working in partnership with communities communities working with leaders and and the third sector, African health professionals to deliver for the whole professionals can play a unique and much- of society has never been clearer. Just needed role in ensuring that ‘Make Every as the athletes alone couldn’t deliver Contact Count’ works for everyone. Through the Games, so we believe that clinicians their unique knowledge and understanding, alone cannot tackle our society’s growing the needs of African communities can be health inequalities. Instead, healthcare understood and addressed better. This can workers, NHS leadership and health be achieved by harnessing their cultural policymakers need to work in partnership Simon Burns, Minister of State for Health, addressing AHPN’s competency to provide a greater focus on with community leaders, faith groups and Health Outcomes Event, Portcullis House, July 2012 the impact of culture, faith and lifestyle the wider voluntary and community sector determinants of health. if we are to achieve real progress towards and enable all healthcare professionals to AHPN will bring about the change health equality. use every contact with the public to help that is needed by creating a clinical and As the leading organisation that people improve their health. community-led network of African health in uences policy on health and wellbeing A signicant proportion of healthcare and social care workers. The network, issues aecting Africans in the UK, the professionals in the NHS are African or through a shared vision to improve health African Health Policy Network (AHPN) of African descent. According to the NHS outcomes for Africans in the UK, will set has been working hard to address the Institute for Innovation & Improvement policy priorities to in uence the future health inequalities aecting the UK’s African there are 193,000 sta from black and direction of the NHS. population. We work with communities minority ethnic backgrounds in the NHS to understand the root causes of health – representing nearly 20% of the NHS The network will be launched at an event in inequalities, and how to overcome them. workforce. There are also 12,500 African Westminster in November 2012. For more information please contact Jacqueline Following the Marmot Review into health doctors registered to work in Britain and, Stevenson, Head of Policy, on jacqueline. inequalities and the NHS reforms process, since the year 2000, African nurses and [email protected], call 020 7017 8910 the focus on achieving health equality is doctors have been issued almost 68,000 or see www.ahpn.org greater now than ever before. AHPN believes work permits to practise in the UK. that a vital part of achieving this lies in Recognising this, we believe that the implementing the NHS Future Forum’s ‘Make African NHS workforce are a vital and Every Contact Count’ initiative: to support often underutilised part of the process to

GK_A5_editorial_Marcus_print.pdf 1 24/08/2012 10:43

CMY

K COMMONWEALTH: “

The lost opportunities It is mistaken and old-fashioned “ Ruth Lea, to regard the Economic Adviser to the Arbuthnot Banking Group Commonwealth as the ‘past’

economic growth is correlated with detracting from GDP, our trade with growth in the working population, they the Commonwealth countries was will be some of the most important in healthy, GDP-enhancing surplus. growth markets in the longer-term. Indeed, after the US, the top surplus country was Australia. But more could Specifically, the Commonwealth’s be done, and more should be done, to demographics compare very favourably stimulate trade with rich, lucrative and with the major European countries, growing Commonwealth markets. where working populations will age and shrink. It is mistaken and old-fashioned In particular, serious consideration to regard the Commonwealth as the needs to be given to the development “past”, an outmoded relic of Empire. of mutually beneficial Free Trade Commonwealth countries are young Agreements with Commonwealth and dynamic and should play a much countries (along with the USA). As one bigger part in Britain’s future. of the world’s major trading nations, our future prosperity partly depends on The UN estimates that between 2010 building ties with countries that have and 2050, Australia’s working population bright futures. will increase by 23 per cent, Canada’s by 9 per cent and India’s by 45 per cent. In But we cannot unilaterally pursue contrast, Germany’s working population optimal trade policies whilst we are he Commonwealth as an will fall by 25 per cent, Italy’s by 21 per in the EU’s Customs Union. That is economic bloc is rarely discussed cent and Spain’s by 14 per cent; though an inescapable fact. The EU’s Trade in Britain. But, in a world of flux T the UK’s is expected to rise by 5 per cent Commissioner, Karel De Gucht, and crisis, this is an opportune moment and France’s by 2 per cent. Note, too, negotiates the deals he considers in the to evaluate the economic potential of that other big fallers include Japan (31 interests of the EU, understandably, and Commonwealth countries, in general, per cent), China (19 per cent) and Russia not in the interests of any one member and their potential as trading partners (27 per cent). state. for us, more specifically. It has, moreover, been estimated There are currently no deals with Commonwealth nations, taken that business costs are 10-15 per cent either the USA or Australia or, indeed, together and including the UK, are an lower for Commonwealth countries with New Zealand. Those are lost economic colossus comprising some trading with one another compared opportunities. And, by the way, this 15 per cent of world GDP, 54 member with Commonwealth countries trading country is quite large enough and states (53 excluding Fiji, which is with non-Commonwealth countries of significant enough to negotiate its own currently suspended) and two billion comparable size and GDP. trade deals. citizens. They will inevitably become more influential and powerful. That benefit, the “Commonwealth If Britain were free of the EU we advantage”, reflects shared history and could push ahead and negotiate the The Commonwealth spans five commonalities of language, law and right deals for this country. We could continents and contains developed, business practice. It should act, other negotiate deals with favoured non-EU emerging and developing economies. things being equal, as a major incentive countries and blocs starting with the Crucially, the Commonwealth, in its to intra-Commonwealth trade. Commonwealth. And we could also richness and diversity, mirrors today’s negotiate a Swiss-style relationship, UK-Commonwealth trade is already global economy in a way that the based on free trade and mutually significant. In 2011, total exports European Union simply cannot start to beneficial bilateral agreements, with EU of goods and services to the major aspire to. countries. And, yes, they would trade Commonwealth countries were over The latest International Monetary with us, given that it would be in their £44 billion, 9 per cent of the total, Fund forecasts show that the major economic interest! If those links were though these exports were dwarfed by Commonwealth countries have healthy developed, Britain, rather than being exports to the US (£80 billion) and in growth prospects in the medium-term. “isolated”, would actually be better particular to the EU27 (£233 billion). Looking further out, they are blessed internationally networked and better with favourable demographics. Their But it is instructive to note that whilst placed, especially with the world’s working populations are projected Britain ran a large current account growing economies, than as a member to increase to 2050 and, insofar as deficit with the EU last year, thus of the EU.

60 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk “ COMMONWEALTH:

The Commonwealth

A diamond opportunity has about a quarter

Ozwald Boateng, of the world’s Saville Row fashion designer and co-founder of Made In Africa Foundation available hard and soft resources yet “ still amounts to only a seventh of the globe’s GDP Image: Miles Warren and Ozwald Boateng growth in Africa based on enterprise poverty was much more about rather than aid. further railways and roads than additional hospitals and schools. The prognosis for Africa was poor; UK industry was only interested in According to some estimates, what it could get out of Africa rather a one per cent increase in the than what it could put in and Africa’s infrastructure stock in sub-Saharan leaders were not much better. Africa (SSA) could add one per cent to GDP growth. Ably supported by Andrew Young and Herbie Hancock, we co-hosted That statistic is all the more the African Union state banquet in profound as African countries, 2007, with Ghana’s president, John already growing at 5 per cent per Kufour. It marked 50 years of Ghana’s annum, need economic growth of independence. around 7 per cent per annum in order to halve the number of people living Chris wrote a speech, read by on less than $1 a day. the Reverend Jesse Jackson, that heralded hope for Africa’s emergence And so we organised a conference into a cycle of virtuous growth: of on African Growth Corridors with ample food, clean water, lights that the Department for International never went out, of railways across its Development at which I spoke with vast expanses, of homes worthy of David Miliband and Mo Ibrahim in eflecting upon the Diamond the name and of lives worth living. 2009. Jubilee year, there are Rfew institutions that have The audience of all 53 African In particular, we proposed the survived Her Majesty’s reign with presidents rose to their feet and opening up of a Growth Corridor by such a dazzle of possibility as the applauded, and I was hugged by a consortium of British household Commonwealth. many a ruler since then damned by names backed by the UK credit history. And then, that was it. rating, along a new trans-Saharan A reign under which many member railway from the new oil port of nations began as colonies but We went back to the near Takoradi in Ghana, across Burkina, eventually emerged from as fast impossible task of introducing ethical Niger to the Libyan oil port of growing economies with vibrant African opportunities to British Misrata. democracies looking for partnership businesses. And the politicians with their former master. carried on as normal. Opening up the Sahel and creating a $100bn African “game changer”, The Commonwealth has about a But despite them, powered by lifting millions out of poverty and quarter of the world’s available hard a global commodity boom and bringing much needed growth to the and soft resources yet still amounts a revolution of mass wireless beleaguered British economy. to only a seventh of the globe’s GDP. telephony, the sub Sahara’s GDP grew into double digits for some Perhaps it was too big a role The unutilised opportunities and states (Ghana, 14 per cent last for Britain to play alone but it technological know-how contained, year, and Sierra Leone, 51 per cent would not be for an empowered yet unconnected, within its forecast for this year). Commonwealth. membership are unparalleled. It was clear to us that for those Projects of global importance Yet when contemplated, it is clear changes to become permanent, could be identified, unifying peoples that its diversity and the goodwill they had to be matched with and bridging divides, behind which it maintains could be the key to the sustainable infrastructure the members combined $10 trillion a new shared appreciation of a development of transport networks. economy could stand. greater Commonwealth; of a wealth developed in common. Those would connect with planned Changing the fortunes of its poorer urban, commercial and agricultural partners and boosting the economies Seven years ago, I set up Made In environments to create Growth of all. Africa with a lawyer, Chris Cleverly, Corridors. and a Ugandan prince, Hassan Now that would be a diamond Kimbugwe, to look at kick starting The route out of continental opportunity for this Diamond Jubilee.

www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 61

FEATURES: “ A call to politicians: start “ thinking about the country – Our democracy is being seriously not the next election mismanaged Sir Harold Atcherley, Former international businessman and government advisor

Consideration of our future Energy needs continues to be the subject of unending and ill-informed political party argument, based on opinion and emotion rather than objective analysis of the evidence regarding the relative merits of nuclear, tidal, wave, gas or wind power. Meanwhile, time for action is running out. There is a state of general malaise in the country provoked by the current economic climate, but there would seem to be a deeper and more long lasting cause. Governments have their eyes glued on the next election, devoting too much time to playing party politics, when their constitutional responsibility is to the country as a whole. Our democracy is being seriously mismanaged. As the Financial Times commented this July: “Politicians have used the crisis not as a platform for serious debate but to score points off each other”. Members of the government and opposition front bench “behave not as serious statesmen but as little more than bickering schoolchildren”. On Lords’ Reform, Michael Portillo has expressed his disbelief that David Cameron “could genuinely wish to see our century’s old second chamber annihilated by a piece of legislation that does not even merit the description half-baked”. The Scottish historian Niall Ferguson said, in the first of his Reith lectures, referring to the huge debts that have been accumulated by Western Nations in recent decades, that: “At the heart of the matter is the way public debt allows the current generation of voters to live at the expense of future generations. Government statistics are deeply misleading, since they encompass only the sums owed by government in the form of bonds. They do not include the often far larger unfunded liabilities, such as welfare schemes and defence.” Niall Ferguson rightly considers that the way forward is to alter the way in which governments account for their finances. Public Image: Alicia Richmond Image: sector balance sheets should be drawn up so the real liabilities of governments can be compared with their assets. Generational he standard of government in Britain has descended to accounts should be published regularly so that governments know a new low. Little or no thought is given to longer term where they are going and the electorate is properly equipped Tpolicies in areas of major national importance. Examples to hold them to account. He described the present accounting are widespread; the government is to spend some £130 billion system as “fraudulent”. Not even national current income and on replacing Trident and building two aircraft carriers, when expenditure statements can be relied upon. serious questions are being asked about their strategic value. It is The chairman of one of the largest multinational groups wrote abundantly clear that the government has no coordinated long- in his message to shareholders in the annual report for 2011: term policy for our three armed services. As to the present, Vince “Today’s volatile world requires more than we alone can deliver. Cable has said that: “There is powerful evidence to support claims We are forging strong ties with partners. These partners can that MOD [Ministry of Defence] equipment plans are totally be governmental or non-governmental bodies, commercial or unrealistic in the light of Britain’s serious budgetary constraint”. non-commercial institutions. The task is clear: create a system It has been announced that £4 billion is to be invested in that is secure, affordable and sustainable”. For “We”, read “The the electrification of large parts of the rail network, when Government”. there is no coordinated policy at all for rail, road and aviation. Although there are obvious differences between the political The government’s recent paper on aviation “policy” has been and industrial worlds, the political class would do well to ponder described as “a document not worth the name, since it did not the chairman’s words, particularly when the government believes address the issue of runway capacity near London”, let alone the that we should go it alone, remaining nothing better than semi- crying need for a new London airport, preferably in the Thames detached Europeans clinging on to America’s coat tails. Estuary.

62 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk “ FEATURES:

A code worth fighting for Impartial and “ objective policy Geoff Langsdon, advice is now up for Head of Training, Government Knowledge grabs

servants were urged to become “can do” regardless of better judgement. Many became zealots for the new ideology. (Of course, that does not mean to say that examples could not been found earlier - I just think that the values of the public sector as a force for good had been under sustained attack over the period in question). And if you were not a “Yes” man or woman, you put your career in jeopardy. Top managers, who should have been the bulwark against such politicisation and group think, were captured by that, fuelled by fear and self-interest. It began the era of private sector good, public sector bad. That politicisation and privatisation continued throughout the Blair years with the seemingly innocuous “What Works”. (Margaret would have been frit of the reach of the Blair privatisation programme!) Accountability has been made much more opaque and slippery as a result of all the contracting out – ultimately does anyone take responsibility? With the Conservative-led Coalition, we have a renewed zeal. Clearly a big fight has taken place at the centre of government about privatisation of the central core of civil service work. Impartial and objective policy advice (without fear or favour!), the raison d’être, is now seemingly up for grabs. Although the words have been watered down to salve consciences (see civil service reform plan), it is clear what the real purpose is. The agenda seems to be: let us capture the core purpose of the civil service because if we break this, we can destroy it and have free rein with the levers of power. That fundamentally misunderstands the constitutional necessity of an impartial and apolitical civil service and public sector. The question that needs asking is: who is going to advise Ministers impartially and objectively on the information and conclusions hat are Public Service Ethics? Why are they important? made by a range of institutions with an axe to grind? Other And does anyone care about them? As a former soldier, political appointees? Do not make me laugh! Wcivil servant, local councillor, and then a businessman for the last 15 years, I do care! Are these ethics across the public sector worth rescuing and strengthening? Yes, is my resounding answer. I think there could The Seven Principles of Public life are as good as any. The be a coalition to promote a strong core state as a force for good. Seven include selflessness, integrity and honesty. I did, however, On the face of it, that should chime with all political parties. Is not like the old civil service code before it was modernised. The key their very essence about furthering the public good? Conservative phrase in that was “without fear or favour”, which encapsulated tradition on that subject was outlined by William Waldegrave in both the speaking truth unto power element - saying “No”, The Times this July, who supported such a view of the state. Now Minister or Councillor or Chief Executive - and impartiality as to we have heard ministers wondering aloud (Jeremy Hunt and special interests. Phillip Hammond) whether privatisation is always wise following As a Private Secretary to Ministers, I faced those party political the massive failure of G4S at the Olympics. and special interest dilemmas, and got it wrong from time-to- But to chime with the times, the fight back needs to be realistic. time. But I did have some role models and underlying sense of The only thing that is understood is economic value. Could some where the boundaries lay. My experience is that people do not clever economist put monetary value on public service ethics? have such support in place any more. And the values have been That may be the only way to get this back on the agenda. under attack for some time, and consequently have eroded. My proposition is that restoring and celebrating those ethics My experience starts with the 1980s; the rise of managerialism, could enhance the nation’s sense of itself and well-being. To join the privatisation of state industries and the contracting out with Adair Turner, if the commercial banks are socially useless, can of support services in the public sector. That was against the we at least recognise that the purpose of the public sector is to be background of pernicious individualism in wider society. Public socially beneficial? www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 63 FEATURES: “

Focus on the owners and not the dogs The Dangerous “ Dogs Act 1991 is a David Evans, case study of Co-founder and Director of The Campaign Company bad law

on innocent people and increase safety. And that is surely the aim of any intervention. Our research showed that: • A majority of young urban dog owners define themselves as good owners. Un-segmented messages about ‘dangerous dogs’ aimed at those who fear crime, will bounce off these young people (in fact, they will exacerbate the problem as ‘good’ dog owners are further stigmatised and driven closer to the gang/gangsta culture that normalises violence); • The clue is in the name - most own dogs as they confer status. For most this means just that – it does not extend to violence. So communication needs to centre on how we can enhance this status to achieve good behaviour, rather than rail against it; • The dogs also satisfy other needs providing companionship where job, housing and relationship security are low and interlinked; • Almost all the participants love their dogs! Most dog owners hate cruelty and mistreatment and regard themselves as good owners. But they will not easily receive messages from authority figures. From our research into motivational values and social networks, those people will cluster in like-minded networks that have the same self-reinforcing values; • Whilst they love their dogs, they tend to lack accurate knowledge about welfare and training. The prevailing narrative of those in the social networks around them is that you train through he Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is a case study of bad law, done punishment. The use of ‘play’ to train dogs is seen as counter badly – and then made worse. It was misconceived on many intuitive in the often-harsh world of these young people. Tlevels. Firstly, serious studies show that training and treatment are Messages introduced by trusted peers in their community will be far more influential than breed in determining the behaviour of a dog. far more effective than lectures from people like us. Secondly, even if you believe that the main problem is dangerous breeds (and you would be wrong) the number of banned breed dogs in the If urban dog owners buy the idea that training their dogs correctly UK has not fallen but has risen massively since 1991. And thirdly, those means more control - thus making them look good - this is more likely charged with enforcing the law will tell you that it is fiendishly difficult and to satisfy outer-directed ‘status’ motivations. It will also lead to fewer expensive to identify a banned breed because most dogs are cross-bred. incidents of dogs injuring people when out of control. Legislation and regulation will, of course, remain important. But public authorities must As Police and Crime Commissioner elections get underway, expect recognise the role of behaviour change. some candidates to seize on the issue of ‘dangerous dogs’. It might even be one of those small but very tangible ‘quality of life’ issues for the Furthermore, there is a big opportunity to engage with a large group Coalition government and the Labour opposition that may shape the of young people on an issue they care deeply about. Young bull breed second half of this parliamentary term. dog owners advocating for better training and welfare to their peers will be massively more effective than more traditional interventions. The The most recent response has been to toughen up the regulations majority are keen to distance themselves from the minority of those they around irresponsible ownership and increase sentences for such owners regard as bad owners. Public policy should drive a wedge between those to 18 months. About time too, and hard-core, violent and abusive owners groups and seek to harness the peer pressure of ‘good owners’ against should be dealt with swiftly and harshly. But the truth is that the impact the bad. At the moment, public policy tends to drive these groups closer for those who live with the issue every day will be negligible. together by stigmatising all urban bull breed dogs and their owners. Research by The Campaign Company would suggest that it might The TCC research programme is summarised in: Research Project Report: steal headlines but it is unlikely to make us safer. The expediential rise Status Dogs Young People and Criminalisation: towards a preventative in bull breed dog ownership needs to be thoroughly understood if the strategy Professor Gordon Hughes, Dr Jenny Mather, Claire Lawson for the behaviour of owners and their dogs is to be changed. We looked at RSPCA by the Cardiff Centre for Crime, Law and Justice April 2011. why young people want to own such dogs and the role that they play in their lives. And before blood vessels start to burst all over this year’s Conference season, I believe that our approach – coupled with intelligent http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/resources/wp139.pdf use of the criminal justice process – is what will actually reduce attacks

64 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk “ FEATURES:

Where next for Higher Education? Overseas students“ are worth £5 billion a year to the UK Marcus Papadopoulos, economy Editor, Politics First

employer and individual demand.” However, Sarah warned that there are “not enough large-sized employers offering apprenticeship opportunities.” Adrian Bailey MP, Chair of the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, emphasised the importance of Higher Education to the UK. He stated that it is “vital” as it “meets business demands and is a major export earner”. Adrian went on to say that: “Higher Education is an enormous contribution to the British economy. It is the best long-term investment to make in enhancing Britain’s role globally. Furthermore, there is an enormous dividend stemming from foreign students studying in the UK.” Commenting on where university applications are coming from today, Adrian said that fewer males are applying. In regard to applications from outside the UK, Adrian stated that applications from EU students have dropped while applications from non-EU students have increased. Referring to the changes to Higher Education currently being initiated by the Coalition Government, Adrian averred that these are “the most profound since the end of the Second World War”. He uilding on the success of its previous conferences on Higher elaborated by saying: “The current changes are financially driven. And Education, Government Knowledge, a recognised leader the Government does not really know where the changes are going.” Bin providing a platform for politicians and stakeholders to A powerful talk was then delivered by Professor Craig Mahoney, communicate with each other on key issues facing the UK, ran a high- Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority, which is the UK profile event this summer on post-sixteen education and skills. Like body that works in partnership with institutions, academic staff, with previous GovKnow events, an enlightening discussion quickly funding bodies and governments to strengthen the quality of the ensued following talks by politicians and academics that lay the ground student-learning experience for students studying for a Higher for a thought-provoking day. Education award. Held at the Arlington Conference Centre, in central London, the Craig said that the field of education in the UK is an “outstanding “Higher Education, Further Education & Skills Conference” focused on example of success” and cited how overseas students are worth £5 the current state of education, courses and qualifications for post- billion a year to the UK economy. However, he argued that Higher sixteen year olds in the UK, their importance to the UK economy and Education in the UK is experiencing “the most turbulent times for the challenges they are currently facing. decades”. He urged for universities to be “more accountable” and First to take the stage was Barry Sheerman MP, current Chair of the stated how it is “wrong” that “by going to Oxford or Cambridge gives a Skills Commission and a leading authority on education at Parliament. student an advantage to getting a job.” Commenting on the formulation of skills policy in the UK, Barry said The “Higher Education, Further Education & Skills Conference” was that there is no “systematic approach” to it as “secretaries of state and supported by important sponsors including the British Red Cross, the junior ministers come and go”. He added that the same applies to University of Chester and Apprentice Extra. civil servants, who move from one department to another for “career development”. Speaking to Politics First at the end of the conference, Jay Patel, Programme Director at GovKnow, said that: “This conference Dismissing the notion that education policy is highly ideological, has provided attendees with the perfect forum for discussing Barry contended that it is actually more “cross-party, more pragmatic” key issues including Higher Education, Further Education & than many people realise. To corroborate that, he cited how when Skills reform, investment in apprenticeships, the importance of Margaret Thatcher was the Education Secretary in Ted Heath’s community skills, widening participation and tackling NEET – Not government, “more grammar schools were abolished than under any in Education, Employment or Training - issues. We look forward other Education Secretary.” Barry made a strong plea for an “all-party to building on the success of this event through our Employment consensus” on where to take education today, arguing in particular & Skills Conference to be held in May 2013.” that: “The state must spend money early on in education to prevent children from going into criminality.” With Higher Education being one of the key areas under consideration at present in Whitehall, the next GovKnow With apprenticeships having increased in size and importance conference on this area will help to facilitate important questions over the last few years, Sarah Benioff, Director of the National and answers that will assist policy-makers in deciding where and Apprenticeship, commented on her “pride” of how today “the size how to take Higher Education next. of apprenticeship programmes continue to grow strongly based on www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 65 FEATURES: “

Turning the European Union into an Innovation Union Europe will need“ one million more Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, researchers by European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science 2020

Our focus is on supporting the best research ideas that provide major business opportunities and change people’s lives for the better. For the first time at European level, Horizon 2020 offers a seamless, coherent package of support from idea to market, from excellent research to innovative products and services that people want to buy. Horizon 2020 will make our investment in research and innovation simpler, more efficient, and more effective. It will help sustain growth and tackle the big challenges that really matter to people, such as climate change, health, energy and food security. We are also already working to make a difference to the innovation environment in Europe. Good progress has been made in launching and implementing 30 out of the 34 Innovation Union commitments. The Commission has, for instance, put forward all six legislative proposals identified under Innovation Union: Horizon 2020, a new Cohesion policy, reform of public procurement legislation, a new regime for venture capital, a standardisation package, and legislative proposals for unitary patent protection. Those proposals promise a step change in framework conditions for innovation in Europe. We also have a deadline of 2014 to achieve the European Research Area, a genuine single market for ideas. That will enable researchers, research institutions and businesses to better move, compete and co-operate across borders. At the moment there are just too many barriers and a lack of transparency, for instance when awarding funding and research positions. Just as the single market for goods has made EU industry more competitive, a single market for research and researchers will make our R&D systems more competitive.

nvestment in research and innovation is about future- Finally, we need more researchers - in fact - Europe will proofing our economy. It safeguards our competitiveness need one million more researchers by 2020 if we are to meet and that means jobs. our economic and innovation goals. That starts with more I focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) We know that those countries which have consistently subjects in school, with more innovative teaching methods. invested the most in research and innovation have weathered I especially want to encourage more girls into science. We this economic crisis the best. Innovation gives our companies need more third level graduates to fill high-tech jobs in the EU, an edge, and employment growth in highly R&I-intensive and we need graduates to be more mobile. The Commission sectors is generally higher. So we need to invest more in presented a new strategy for the modernisation of the higher innovation, we need to create better conditions for our education system in Europe in September last year. innovators, and we need to teach the right skills. The Commission is focused on making Europe more Innovation Union, launched by the European Commission competitive, supporting the best research and turning it into in October 2010, aims to improve conditions and access to growth and jobs. finance for research and innovation in Europe, making our economy smarter and more competitive. We need the support of policy-makers and stakeholders across Europe for Innovation Union, Horizon 2020, and to Horizon 2020, the European Union’s proposed new research complete the European Research Area. Then the best ideas and innovation programme, is a key pillar of Innovation Union. can be used in a way that makes a real difference across our Running from 2014 to 2020 with a proposed budget of €80 continent. Only then will the European Union become an billion, it is a programme to stimulate growth and jobs. Innovation Union.

66 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk “ BOOK REVIEW:

Georgy Zhukov: The Russian general whose great General Victory “ victories in the Nazi- Soviet War were Albert Axell, unsurpassed in the Military historian 20th century

country.” In mid-December 1941, the Soviet press carried the news of Zhukov’s stunning success in turning the tide in the battle for Moscow. In the West, the media took notice of Zhukov. Alexander Worth, the Sunday Times correspondent in Moscow, wrote that: “The name mentioned most frequently, next to Stalin and Molotov, is Zhukov’s. Zhukov played a leading part in organising not only the counter-offensive at Moscow but it was largely he, and perhaps entirely he, who saved Leningrad in the nick of time.” In his inclusive biography, Roberts gives ample space to American historian David Glantz, author of the controversial book, Zhukov’s Greatest Defeat: The Red Army’s Epic Disaster in Operation Mars. Roberts says Glantz “makes a powerful case” when he says Zhukov suffered a setback in the clash of armies in the Rzhev-Viazma sector west of Moscow, a battle that was fought simultaneously with Operation Uranus (the battle at Stalingrad), that it was not a “diversionary” battle as Zhukov claimed. But the reality was extremely complex. Briefly, the Nazi High Command waged two parallel offensives: one at the Rzhev-Vyazma front, a hundred miles West of Moscow, the other at Stalingrad. If the Nazis had moved hundreds of thousands of troops and artillery from the Rzhev-Vyazma front to Stalingrad, there was a good chance Stalingrad would have fallen to the enemy. Stalin sent eoffrey Roberts, who is considered one of the best military Zhukov to that front to prevent such a disaster. historians of our time, has produced an extraordinary book Gabout the Russian general whose great victories in the Nazi- Vladimir Karpov, a historian who had fought at the Rzhev sector, Soviet War were unsurpassed in the twentieth-century. His book, provides evidence that it was only a diversionary battle. He recalls Stalin’s General: The Life of Georgy Zhukov, is not only scrupulous that when the enemy launched a powerful attack, his regimental but its fourteen highly readable and compressed chapters give commander said: “It’s good they’re strong. Full-strength German readers many more fascinating details about Zhukov’s military and units are coming at us. That’s very good!” private life than previous biographies. Most important, the book is At first Karpov was shocked. Why was his commander so loyal to historical truth and should be particularly welcome to those cheerful? In his own words: “What good was a strong enemy attack for whom Hitler’s invasion of Russia is only a vague memory or who for us?” Later he understood. The aim of the Russians was to try and were born many years after World War Two. smash the German forces and prevent the enemy from transferring An interesting feature of the biography is the author’s troops to the Stalingrad front. This task was accomplished by comparison of Marshal Zhukov with Allied generals such as Zhukov. Eisenhower, Patton, Montgomery and MacArthur, as well as the At the beginning of his opus, Roberts cites the late historian German generals Guderian and Manstein. Roberts says that: “The John Erickson as “the foremost British authority on the Red Army.” conclusion to be drawn from this survey of comparable generals is Erickson, he relates, called Zhukov: “The greatest soldier so far that while Zhukov did not excel as ‘the best ever’ in any one field of produced by the 20th century. He is the general who never lost a military endeavor, he was the best all-around general of the Second battle.” World War. He inspired the affection and confidence of his troops – as well as their fear – if not the ungrudging respect of all his peers. Roberts concludes his exemplary biography by saying “the He was stoic in defeat and exuberant in victory. He had seemingly Zhukov legend” has continued to grow. The author underlines inexhaustible reserves of energy and the will to succeed however Zhukov’s rise “from peasant poverty to become a great general and challenging the circumstances.” a hero not only to the Russian people but to all those who value his incomparable contribution to the victory over Nazi Germany.” Roberts affirms that a “particular component” of Zhukov’s success on the battlefield “was that he was a Soviet general and Albert Axell is completing a book entitled “Greatest Russian War it is unlikely he would have been so effective a general in any Stories, 1941-1945.” He has written five books about World War Two other army.” A U.S. general has expressed a different view. Walter including “Stalin’s War: Through the Eyes of His Commanders.” In the Bedell Smith, who was General Eisenhower’s Chief of Staff, met 1980s and 1990s, he interviewed more than thirty of Stalin’s surviving Zhukov often and knew a good deal about him. In a memoir, Smith wartime generals. says that Zhukov would have been a “great” leader “in any other www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 67 Dubai, 4–6 March 2013

We invite you to join more What to expect than 1,000 leaders of 200+ high-proﬁle speakers including: international higher education − His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education to debate global education: and Scientiﬁc Research, UAE knowledge-based economies − Dr Jo Beall, Director, Education and Society, British Council for 21st-century nations − Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor, Open University The Going Global 2013 international education − Mourad Ezzine, Education Sector Manager, Middle East and North Africa, World Bank conference will examine to what extent knowledge economies are already internationalised and what − Dr Tayeb Kamali, Vice-Chancellor, Higher Colleges of Technology impact they will have on the wealth, prosperity and wellbeing of nations, communities and cultures. − Professor Louise Richardson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St Andrews On the basis that research and tertiary education − Professor Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor, systems are the primary drivers of knowledge University of Bristol and President, Universities UK economies, the conference will bring together 50+ informative poster presentations the world’s experts to present and debate the showcasing leading case studies latest thinking on current practices, systems and 40+ exhibitors delivery mechanisms. 30+ workshops and parallel sessions Participants will identify future trends, and explore 1,000+ participants from 80+ countries the challenges and opportunities these present for research and tertiary systems in creating knowledge- based economies for 21st-century nations. Call for proposals Our call for proposals is now open and we invite you to submit a paper addressing the following three themes: Research and innovation: the role of international collaboration Developing skilled knowledge workers: the role of international collaboration Internationalising tertiary education structures Register to attend and systems. Registration opens 19 November 2012 with early-bird rates until 14 December 2012. Submit your proposal by 17 September 2012

68 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk INTERVIEW: ANGELA EAGLE ANGELA EAGLE Shadowing the House and Party

Angela Eagle, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Chair of the National Policy Forum of the Labour Party, tells Marcus Papadopoulos of her plans to reform Parliament and to involve Labour grassroots more in party policy-making

Why do you believe the House of What has been the response of the The party’s policy-making process Commons is in need of reform Government to your calls for reform? needs to be more transparent, more empowering and less worried about My view is that the House needs to be I believe the Government wants having debates. more friendly to the electorate. I do reform to go thus far and no farther. Dubai, 4–6 March 2013 not believe that many young people, They have an agenda, put together In Aston, this summer, I implemented for example, understand the arcane before the 2010 general election, the first changes to the National language used in the House, such as which is quite limited and which Policy Forum which allowed the “The Right Honourable Gentleman”, focuses mainly on e-petitions and the working groups on the first day to We invite you to join more What to expect and this is an important group in society Wright Proposals. But that is simply come up with two specific areas to reach out to in order to ensure not good enough and certainly not which they wanted to discuss and we than 1,000 leaders of 200+ high-proﬁle speakers including: that Parliament really is the “People’s good enough for British democracy. subsequently held workshops on these international higher education − His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Parliament”. So I have given evidence We need a deeper democratic areas-areas which were considered Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education to the Procedures Committee, which is approach to policy-making and important by party members, such as to debate global education: and Scientiﬁc Research, UAE responsible for looking into reform of therefore I am currently in the process housing, proper access to transport, the House, on making Parliament more of drawing up a manifesto for change employment law and protection at − Dr Jo Beall, Director, Education and Society, knowledge-based economies understandable to the public that it in the chamber for the next general work. British Council represents and serves. election. So with the help of the National for 21st-century nations − Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor, Open University And the response Executive Committee, I want to The Going Global 2013 international education − Mourad Ezzine, Education Sector Manager, of Labour MPs? implement further changes to make Middle East and North Africa, World Bank debate more meaningful and open We are in the conference will examine to what extent knowledge it up to party members and those − Dr Tayeb Kamali, Vice-Chancellor, debate stage at economies are already internationalised and what outside the party, too. Higher Colleges of Technology the moment but impact they will have on the wealth, prosperity and Do you sympathise with those − Professor Louise Richardson, Principal Labour MPs are wellbeing of nations, communities and cultures. more on the side of Constituency Labour Parties which and Vice-Chancellor, University of St Andrews progressive politics believe the NPF has in the past On the basis that research and tertiary education − Professor Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor, and committed mattered little in reality? systems are the primary drivers of knowledge University of Bristol and President, Universities UK to empowering There has been a great deal of ordinary people economies, the conference will bring together 50+ informative poster presentations cynicism expressed in the past about up and down the the world’s experts to present and debate the showcasing leading case studies the NPF and with some justification country. latest thinking on current practices, systems and 40+ exhibitors in my view. The NPF was not allowed delivery mechanisms. The Parliamentary to do its job properly and the system 30+ workshops and parallel sessions Labour Party is very tended to suppress rather than Participants will identify future trends, and explore 1,000+ participants from 80+ countries keen to make sure encourage discussion. that democratic the challenges and opportunities these present for The party should not be frightened decision-making is research and tertiary systems in creating knowledge- of opinions. So I want to see a more responsive to process which encourages vigorous based economies for 21st-century nations. Call for proposals what people want and intelligent debates and this Our call for proposals is now open and we invite you to and that it engages is something that is very much submit a paper addressing the following three themes: people more. supported by Ed Miliband. Research and innovation: the role of international Turning to the But at the same time once we have collaboration mechanics of the this new process installed people must Labour Party, Developing skilled knowledge workers: the role accept the resolution of the process. of international collaboration what plans do you have to The Labour Party has a great Internationalising tertiary education structures reinvigorate the tradition of raucous debate, and it is Register to attend and systems. National Policy my intention to strengthen this and by Registration opens 19 November 2012 with Forum as its Chair? doing so strengthen the democratic early-bird rates until 14 December 2012. Submit your proposal by 17 September 2012 process and credentials of the party.

www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 69 INTERVIEW: IBM CRIME ANALYTICS: the future for law and order

Shaun Hipgrave, Strategic Alliances IBM UK, discusses with Marcus Papadopoulos IBM’s cutting edge technology for tackling crime and enhancing policing

What is Crime Analytics? There may be differing responses to this very moot question depending upon the experience and involvement of the recipient in the crime investigation community. There are, however, common factors and from my own practitioner viewpoint, put simply, it is the systematic analysis of relevant information or data that is gathered by Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in their day-to-day business, be that as part of a specific criminal investigation, a community policing function or any other type of intelligence gathering role. Regardless of the practitioner’s function, such analysis allows LEAs to identify patterns, trends and linkages contained within that data which enables a more efficient and proactive response to crime and disorder. Why is there a need for it? Since the Romans created Law and Order and the Magistrate System, crime has been investigated. The difference between then and now is the mass of information that needs to be analysed. Prior to the digital and computer age, detectives would often use a hand written card system to collate information, while the actual analysis would be undertaken utilising documented charts combined with only personal experience increase. A single police force creates databases get larger, the need to and intuition. However, in 1986, within electronic crime reports, custody reports, analyse will increase and the capability the UK, a major development saw the intelligence reports, such as Automatic for automatic pattern detection to introduction of ‘computerisation’, and Number Plate Recognition, CCTV images support police decision- makers and the Home Office Large Major Enquiry and sightings, as well as numerous investigators will become a requirement. System (HOLMES) was created as an other data sources. In addition to that, That will, in turn, impact upon crime administrative system to collate all national agencies have central databases detection rates, introduce positive crime information on major enquiries. As part such as the Police National Database. prevention strategies and enable effective of the early HOLMES system, crime As a result of the Soham child murder enforcement resourcing. analysts used IBM i2 analysis solutions investigation in the UK, the Government- What are the benefits? to visualise all relevant data in order to led Bichard recommendations stressed provide Senior Investigating Officers (SIO) a requirement for cross agency and Put simply, better crime analysis across with patterns, trends or linkages to direct police force intelligence sharing. All that all areas of Law Enforcement work keeps them towards suspects. creates the need to have the ability to the public safe by detecting more crimes, In 2012 and in the coming years, the analyse multiple systems, and this need is predicting crime trends and anticipating volumes of data created and available substantially greater than ever before. hotspots in (near) real time. The result is better resourcing and an ability to to LEAs is already vast and will only As more systems are created and improve crime prevention measures.

70 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk INTERVIEW: IBM Some police forces in the UK have already centralised all of their available data sources, and are using IBM analytic systems to review all this information at both a senior and middle management level as well as for operational analyst use allowing operational decisions based on the latest and most complete information available. That has saved significant investigation and resource hours by early focus of investigations, improved targeting and preventative community patrolling. The next step for UK Police forces would be to take the analytics up to the next level by incorporating pattern detection and predictive analysis. That will further improve the ability for crime prevention and optimised deployment of resources. It will also allow more efficient that is working with public authorities LEAs still need to work hard on sharing

investigation and intelligence generation globally. It integrates the data from all data and pooling it in physical or virtual usedis license”. and under of IBM Corp. trademark registered is a IBM logo The in large data sets and from open source the emergency services, public utilities data repositories. That has a separate intelligence. and other public services and uses its challenge as often national legislation The Memphis Police Department, for analytical solutions to feed an Intelligence needs to be changed to allow this. It is example, was able to bring crime rates Operatons Centre (IOC) that enables commonly accepted that one of the ways back to the level of 25 years ago (after users to utilise resources more effectively. that crime analysis can only advance is being in the top 10 for criminal cities in Rio de Janerio is currently running such an by improving the size of the pool it is the US) by deploying their resources to IOC in anticipation of the next World Cup. working from. locations with an expected high crime Is IBM working on this outside of the There are also real opportunities in risk. That risk is determined based on UK, too? areas outside traditional LEA crime patterns detected in both internal crime analysis, public sector fraud and IBM smarter cities is global; it has reports and police presence and external commercial fraud investigation. Areas examples in the UK and Europe as well as data like weather conditions, city events such as market trading, anti- money the US and Asia. Indeed, it has analysis and other important crime triggers and laundering and credit card fraud are solutions in 150 countries worldwide, with enablers. beginning to see real benefits of having every major LEA and Intelligence agency predictive, live and visual analysis There are also wider benefits than the including all of the UK Police Forces and solutions. UK national and local Law Enforcement 60 per cent of US police forces. IBM i2, organisations. Crime analysis in the UK created in Cambridge and based both in Probably the simplest way to illustrate is globally recognised as being at the Cambridge as well as in the US, has sold the benefit of using IBM analysis cutting edge of crime investigations. 350,000 licenses worldwide. solutions outside the traditional crime analysis environment is from two real life The recent Defence and Security In the US and Europe, several agencies examples, one from Dorset Police and the Technology white paper has created have incorporated more advanced other Addison Lee, a London based taxi a Security Authority led by a senior pattern detection solutions in their company responsible owner and a small team of investigations and in, for example, staff within the Office for Security and insider threat and cyber crime detection IBM Analytics is helping Dorset Police Counter Terrorism at the Home Office solutions. The combination of these analyse Police training and assessment to represent the UK Security Industry in automated techniques with IBM’s leading data to improve training effectiveness, exporting our world class technologies. investigative analysis and visualisation optimising force spending thus providing Both our UK analysis experience and our solutions allow for early detection and the community with the best equipped cutting edge analysis systems are leading rapid solution of crimes. officers to help improve public safety. the way in creating this growth in exports. Addison Lee had a 5-10 per cent fraud Can you detail the role that IBM is to sales ratio on their 2,500 credit card Finally, how does IBM intend to take playing in the field including who it is transactions per day, there were 1,400 Crime Analytics forward? working with. charge back refunds to customers and IBM is taking analytics and analysis to a Even though IBM has taken great strides fines from the card provider per month new level. It is currently working towards in crime analytics it still has more to do. with additional charges from card solutions for large data sets. It has taken All organisations are going to have to providers of £100,000. IBM i2 analysis its vast global experience in analytics and consider the growth of electronic data in solution capture the 9,000 daily business has merged predictive analystics, identity our everyday lives and this in turn creates feeds providing an alert review with a analytics, text analytics, visual and large data sets. Legacy IT structures are maximum 4 minute turnaround. The investigative analytics in (near) real time struggling to cope with those increases. outcome was a reduction to 0.6 per cent analysis solutions around ‘Big Data’. IBM Cloud Solutions is one route through fraud to sales ratio and 60 charge backs of that, linking IBM analytics with its secure which 83 per cent were challenged. The And who is IBM working with? It is not privatecloud solutions will create the result was a reduction in fraud loss and just Law Enforcement agencies; IBM has bandwidth that many organisations will being moved off card providers hot list. created its smarter cities programme need going forward. www.politicsfirst.org.uk September/October 2012 Politics First 71 INTERVIEW: LES VINS DE SYLVAIN Westminster’s French vineyard

Sylvain Berthélémé, owner of Les Vins de Sylvain, talks to Marcus Papadopoulos about the passion of wine and its place in Westminster

Where did your passion for wine come from? It came from my family – my father was born in the heart of Burgundy, Hospices de Beaune, which is one of the most famous places in France and, indeed the world, for wine. Despite having grown up in Paris, I spent a lot of time in Burgundy following in the footsteps of my family before me in learning about wine. Not long after this, I moved to Bordeaux to pursue further studies of wine as I knew then that my future lay in the wine industry. Who inspires you in the world of wine? There are three individuals who particularly inspire me. Firstly, Philip Zucchino, a Californian who has a great respect and knowledge of French wine. Secondly, Bernard Rivals - former owner of Château Monlot St Emilion - for his success in producing one of my favourite Grand Cru wines and for his wonderful passion for the vines. And thirdly, Gary Vaynerchuk, a successful wine critic with a phenomenal presence on YouTube. How do you get the most out of drinking a good bottle of wine? Firstly, respect your wine! Depending on the age of the bottle, make sure it has been stored in the correct conditions. Temperature is important role so select the correct one. getting better and better because there is now more investment in the important as it can change the balance The degustation is split into 4 parts: industry. Surrey and Kent produce a of the taste of the wine (too cold and it firstly, the aspect of the wine – the colour sparkling wine which is, in my opinion, will freeze the components of the wine, tells you a lot about the maturity and equal to a Crémant de Bourgogne. and too warm will expand the fruits too complexity; secondly, in the nose – this Recently, English wines were awarded much). The right temperature for a White is where you will find all the scent of an international gold medal which should be 10-12 degrees and around 18 your wine; thirdly, the palette – you will demonstrates just how far England’s wine degrees for a Red. Care also needs to be discover the acidity, fruit, minerals and industry has come. taken when removing the cork, an old spice of your wine here; and fourthly, the vintage will be more fragile. Don’t let this finish - a short or long length depending After a brief decline in popularity during put you off though – if a cork breaks this on the power of the wine. the 1990s, French wines are now back does not necessarily mean your wine has in vogue. What was the decline down And finally – just enjoy it! been affected. Depending on the age of to and how have they regained their the wine, open at least 30 minutes before How do English wines compare to their popularity? serving. It is always good to let the wine foreign counterparts? breathe in the bottle or in an appropriate France became complacent with its decanter. Also, the glass plays an English wines are very good and are leading position in the world in wine

72 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk INTERVIEW: LES VINS DE SYLVAIN

producing. Coupled together with that And who do you supply to outside of What are your top wine tips? was the emergence of New World Wines Westminster? Do not let price dictate your decision produced by countries such as Australia, I supply to different restaurants and wine as prices increase with notoriety and South Africa, New Zealand, America and bars including Gordon’s Wine Bar – the complexity-something simple can be South America. Both factors helped to oldest wine bar in London situated on just as enjoyable; know your vintage explain why French wines were on the Embankment - , hotels including The – each region has its best vintage, for decline 15-20 years ago. However, as a Capital on Basil Street in Knightsbridge, example 2005 Bordeaux is exceptional result of investment in the various French and private clients and events across for the Cabernet / Merlot; have fun wine-making regions this provided a London, England, Ireland and a little step with wine and try new things – it’s as stimulus to reinvigorating their wines. in Hong Kong. important to know what you don’t like Since 2000, we have seen France profit as much as what you do. from incredible vintages due to the Where are your cellars? weather; for example, 2003, 2005 and Don’t depend on your supermarket for In the heart of Westminster, on the site of 2009 pushed France to the forefront of a good deal – independent wine dealers the old Marsham prison dating from 1816. the Wine industry. have great wines and offer good value, The cellar lock is the original from the too; drink each wine at its prime; and When and how did you start supplying 1920s! So there’s a lot of history there! take care to serve your wine properly – wines to people within government How do you relate wine to politics? at the right temperature, let it breathe departments in Westminster? and get the right glass. I think the two go very well together My company, Les Vins de Sylvain, – the more wine, the more political How would you sum up the joy of which was established in the autumn discussion! In 1855, Napoleon III directed drinking wine? of 2010, has been supplying numerous the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce departments for two years now. I For me, it stems from every step of the to produce a ranking of the wines of started supplying wine to Richard process in producing wine. Bordeaux, which remains largely in Shepherd’s Langan’s Group, most place to this day. Interestingly, Winston There is a lot of time and passion famous for Langan’s Brasserie in Green Churchill’s love of Pol Roger Champagne involved and the outcome is beautiful, Park and Shepherd’s Restaurant based (through whose cellar it is estimated that complex and always different. in the political hub of Westminster. My more than 500 cases of Pol Roger had Wine selection is simple, good quality, Quite simply speaking, wine is a passed in the last ten years of his life!) individual and competitively priced and remarkable product. meant that after his death the Château personally chosen by myself – which sets named the Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill me apart from my rivals. after him.

PRIVATE AND WHOLESALE I MPORTER ANDD ISTRIBUTOR OF FRENCH WINES

Les Vins de Sylvain F R E N C H W I N E S Westminster

Bordeaux Chablis Burgundy Cremant Cote de Provence R E S T A U R A N T S B A R S H O T E L S P R I V A T E C L I E N T S S P E C I A L O C C A S I O N

+44 (0) 7942 070839 [email protected] www.lesvinsdesylvain.co.uk

N O M I N I M U M O R D E F R E E D E L I V E R Y I N L O D Nigel Nelson Nelson’s Column Keeping an eye on The People

A Coalition of checks

his is the conference season when the opposition is in front of you but all three party leaders will have to your enemies are behind you. For Tsquare a circle. Their mission – and both Cameron and Miliband, being they have no choice but to accept it – will in government with another party be to embrace the advantages of coalition helps them control their own troops government while simultaneously so manifestos are delivered without advancing the individual identities of their too many mutinous mutterings. Party parties. conferences are the opportunity to get that message across to the foot soldiers. It will be the political equivalent of juggling skittles while standing on your That is easier for Cameron after more head. But it is not in the electoral interests than two years of coalition than it is for of any of them to do otherwise. Ed Miliband. Now fast forward to the than just stopping the boundary changes negotiating table the day after the next David Cameron needs the Coalition to which could deliver 20 more Conservative election if no one party has secured an keep his right-wingers in check. He has MPs. overall majority but the Labour leader has liberal tendencies himself – his passionate most MPs.

advocacy of gay marriage is an example – Clegg has left it to lesser figures in the and it’s handy to hide behind the Liberals party to lay the groundwork for that. Nick Clegg told me that “if the British

when throwing liberal policies about. Which is why Julian Huppert, chair of the people, like they did last time, say no one party’s transport committee, was able to lot has won, then I’ll be open to working Nick Clegg needs to be in a coalition say Lib Dems will not just fight rail fare with other parties.” Well, he would say because out of one he and his party “ increases but also block any attempts for that, wouldn’t he? So I pressed him on would be out of everything if the polls are a third runway at Heathrow. whether he could do business with Ed anything to go by. His election strategy Miliband. “Yes”, he said. will be a vote for the Lib Dems is a vote for partnership. And Ed Miliband knows Now this is where it gets tricky. You that he might need the Lib Dems as would have a deputy prime minister with Whitehall bedfellows after the next five years experience at the very top of

election. Ed Miliband knows government and a rookie PM still asking his way to the Number 10 lavatory. How In Birmingham last year, Nick Clegg that he might could that work?

and his Lib Dem ministers tried to deal with the ticklish issue of their identity need the Lib “I will never bring personal likes and crisis by including a tickle stick in every “ dislikes into it,” Clegg replied. “I would speech to take the pee out of the Tories. treat anyone I work with in government That repetitive Ken Doddery began to Dems as Whitehall with respect even if I don’t agree with sound silly, though the rank-and-file them.” seemed to like it. bedfellows after the Yes, yes, yes, but that’s not the issue, I did, though, like Pensions minister next election is it? Any new prime minister would Steve Webb’s joke. He had been told feel vulnerable to a deputy in those that people find pensions so complicated circumstances. And vulnerable is not how there are certain words he should avoid. prime minister’s like to feel. So it’s not Alas, one of them was pensions. So he a question of whether Nick could work wrote to David Cameron asking to be re- There will be a lot of tub-thumping with Ed but whether Ed could work with titled Minister for Retirement Solutions. from both Cameron and Miliband about Nick. And the answer to that has to be an going for all out victory in 2015, but listen unequivocal no. But expect more serious speeches in for the subtle drumbeat of how working Brighton this year. After the Lib Dem’s with others is not so bad either. Those close to Ed Miliband told me century-old goal of House of Lords reform as much. So the price of a Lib-Lab pact was scuppered, activists will expect Every political leader quickly learns would be a new Lib Dem leader. Vince revenge on the Tories which goes further that old Westminster adage that Cable, this could be your moment.

74 Politics First September/October 2012 www.politicsfirst.org.uk etter’s ONLINE Z !

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