Another one of my ongoing series * in which I highlight articles or speeches that I admire so much I – kind of – wish I’d written or given them! So, to kick this particular series off: a terrific comment page piece by David Edgar in today’s Guardian about the values and innovation underlying the best sort of public service. It’s no coincidence that such views are being expressed as we come towards the (possible) end of the New Labour era. I think there will be many more pieces/thoughts/arguments of this kind in the next few years. I hope so.
* some of my other ongoing series include Missing in Domestic Action, Thoughts of an Amateur Cellist and Reasons to be Cheerful, started just below this post. Warning: parts two, three, four etc of these ruminations are often quite a while coming, so do enjoy Part one ( of each) in all their singular glory!!!
I enjoyed the Guardian article Melissa but some of the online comments to it are a little (lot) cruel and are more indicative of Murdoch readers having a pry and responding with their Tory dogma.
For what it’s worth to the readers who don’t know the geography of West London, the catchment area of Holland Park School includes some of Shepherds Bush as it was from there that my wife Sian. the daughter of one of the Bush’s eccentric bag ladies attended. I know of a couple of friends whose children attend now. Mum drives a bus and dad drives a fire engine! Bloody toffs!
It’s fair comment that Holland Park Comprehensive School’s catchment area does indeed include some salubrious housing, but I actually thought that was one of the reasons why it was such a high profile comprehensive school because people who lived nearby would have normally been of sufficient means to go via the private route.
The four Benn children were hardly an average representative of the community at large (if there ever is such a thing) but their parents did something that is largely absent from modern day politics – they led by example. If I can find a politician of any political colour who does that in my constituency I’ll vote for her/him.
I wish I’d said that in the right spot. Sorry should have been on the “C” word post two more recent than this one – I need staff!