Nick Robinson 'gets it !'
Nick Robinson has a fine post here - he understands the wider issues in play, even beyond the issue of attacking the aspirational middle class on education.
Team Cameron really needs to sit up and take note whilst there is still time.
I quote a section from Nick Robinson's blog here:
- Yesterday, I asked the Tory leader at his news conference how he would answer those who said his policy was fine for a "posh, rich kid" like himself but wondered how it would help someone like Michael Howard, his predecessor, the son of poor immigrants, who believes that a grammar school education was the key to escape from poverty. The Tory leader retorted that focussing on his background was old fashioned and irrelevant.
Many will agree.
However, the key to success as a leader is persuading people that even if you're not one of them you understand how they feel. The Tories who feel wounded by the Great Grammar School Row fear that he hasn't a clue how they feel and never will.
Cranmer has his own take on selection and ability also.
3 comments:
"However, the key to success as a leader is persuading people that even if you're not one of them you understand how they feel. The Tories who feel wounded by the Great Grammar School Row fear that he hasn't a clue how they feel and never will."
I voted Cnservative from Heath to Major because the leaders were from reasonably ordinary backgrounds and they understood the aspirations of the bloke in the street. I cannot imagine voting for an Etonian however much I dislike what the Labour party does to this country.
Cameron does have that whiff of plum arrogance about him that many people cannot stand, and this fracas over Grammar schools has brought it into bold relief.
I really hope the Conservatives will think again about this. They seem to be bleeding principles and values at a time when the country is desparate for renewal.
David Cameron has no idea how I feel as an ex-Grammar School boy from a very poor background. I feel that we have had enough of privately educated ministers [Crosland, Williams, Blair, Kelly, Clarke et al] tinkering with the education system for the last 40 years.
If just one of this elite had improved things by one tittle it would be something to boast about. Instead we experiment endlessly by relabelling.
The Etonians on Cameron's bench are just as remote and disqualified from having a worthwhile opinion.
When General elections come we must choose between the Liars, the Fops and the Wets.
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