ES Views: Cabinet reshuffle is merely papering over the cracks

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Colour matcher: Michael Gove
Bloomberg via Getty Images
11 January 2018
WEST END FINAL

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The Prime Minister’s Cabinet reshuffle is little more than an attempt to scratch the surface of some very deeply rooted problems.

By failing to respond to countless critical issues facing many ordinary people every day, this ailing Government continues to make a mockery of the potential of this great country and its people.

Schools are still starved of much-needed cash, which is resulting in a poorer educational experience for young people while demeaning the efforts of tireless educators. Doctors, nurses and all hardworking members of the NHS face the prospect of continued underfunding, putting many patients at risk.

Despite the deserved praise heaped on the police, fire and other emergency services, their desire to protect us is undermined by the Government’s lack of funding to support them.

Paralysed by the incompetence and individual ambitions of her ministers, Theresa May should now do at least one thing right, and make way immediately for real leadership by calling a general election.
Cllr Jumbo Chan, Brent council (Lab) and teacher
Danielle Tiplady, nurse
Lucy Masoud, firefighter
Dr Tony O’Sullivan, doctor (retired)


The latest reshuffle kerfuffle yet again demonstrates Theresa May’s propensity for saying one thing while doing the exact opposite.

It is all very well claiming to base your premiership on the need to confront social injustice and promote social mobility but it is bizarre to then remove an Education Secretary in Justine Greening who challenged the Prime Minister’s obsession with introducing new grammar schools and replace her with Damian Hinds, a man who proudly attends Friends of Grammar Schools receptions.

Ms Greening’s opposition to new grammar schools was presumably based on evidence that shows that selection in education reduces social mobility. That is why we should all be alarmed that official figures show the number of pupils in grammar schools in England is at its highest level in two decades, and is likely to increase even further.
Chris Dunne, Campaign for State Education


Theresa May missed her golden chance to move Boris Johnson out of the Foreign Secretary role. That she backed down so easily says two things about her leadership: that she struggles to assert her authority and that she genuinely fears a backlash if she antagonises Johnson, a potential successor as party leader should she be ousted.

She has failed to establish a clear stance on Brexit and now, in her own reshuffle, she failed to get rid of the dead wood. It is only a matter of time, surely, before she is replaced.
F Robson


Guards deserve a long-term future

I agree that rail travellers should be given a say in the future of guards on trains [Letters, January 8]. After all, it is passengers who benefit from them, and our money that pays for them, through fares and taxes.

South Western Railway says it will guarantee the jobs of guards for another eight years but what happens then? Will there suddenly be no more people in wheelchairs, or elderly passengers who need information or help with luggage? Will those curved station platforms with poor visibility become miraculously straight?

I’m sure we all want to know whether the savings made by the train firms is reflected in cheaper fares.
Judith Howard


I wonder about Southeastern’s definition of the “improved” service it predicts on the back of the prolonged refurbishment of London Bridge Station. Since the re-opening and the modernisation of the platforms we have had delayed departure times, shortened trains and extended journey times.

At least we get to appreciate the newness of the station as we rush to reach connecting trains resulting from Cannon Street’s off-peak services being reined back to an absolute minimum.

And of course as we are swept along by this tide of modernisation and improvements we are captive to paying more for such pleasures.

It is disappointing to note, however, that in this invigorating drive to the future so selflessly bestowed upon us, Southeastern has seen fit to resurrect from history its meaningless catch-all excuse of “congestion at London Bridge”.
Bruce Rodger


Did Young need to be the fall guy?

People equipped to serve this country in specialist roles seem to be ruled out for opinions unrelated to the posts offered to them.

Some of Toby Young’s views, for example, are not unrelated to the position he has just relinquished but given that there are other members of the Office for Students board with presumably acceptable views, it might have been good to have a different voice.
Drew Plunkett


Split up the NHS to make it work

The “crisis” within the NHS is not just down to underfunding but inefficiency and bureaucracy.

A core problem is the sheer size of the NHS; it is the world’s fifth largest employer, with only the Chinese and US armed forces being bigger, along with Walmart and McDonalds. It is just too big and clumsy. It is in need of desperate reorganisation and maybe being split up regional basis. To manage such a monolith is all but impossible.
David Doe


It is tempting to suggest we should all pay more tax to increase funding in the NHS [Letters, January 8].The danger, however, is that most governments or political parties would relish the thought that we, the taxpayer, would accept such a rise without it causing them political damage.

Yes, the NHS should have more funding but this does not need to be paid for by increased taxes.

The money should and could be found from a root-and-branch crackdown on tax evasion. Make those who enjoy the benefits but proportionally pay very little stump up their fair share.
Craig Alexander

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