ddave3's Blog
Sure Start at the heart of Labour
DDave3 Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 10:08:34 PM GMT 
Facebook
I've been reading some of Gosta Esping-Andersen, the Spanish sociologist, work recently. The way to achieve equality of opportunity is, he explains, to make it a central Government goal to "abolish social inheritance". Whilst this is his rather policywonk sociologist terminology, nonetheless it represents an important breakthrough.
Leaked Blair Memo
DDave3 Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 01:27:01 AM GMT
Facebook
Blair slams 'vacuous' Brown in leaked note
The Guardain
· PM accused of 'lamentable confusion'
· Memo escalates Labour's civil war
The Guardain
· PM accused of 'lamentable confusion'
· Memo escalates Labour's civil war
"Tony Blair accused Gordon Brown of generating 'hubris and vacuity' in a devastating private memo analysing his mistakes, which last night threatened to blow a hole in the heart of government.
The former prime minister believed his successor had presided over a 'lamentable confusion of tactics and strategy', attacking Blair's record instead of building on it and failing to spell out an agenda for the future, according to the scathing note penned after last September's chaotic Labour party conference. Such tactics would not win the next election, he concluded.
The former prime minister believed his successor had presided over a 'lamentable confusion of tactics and strategy', attacking Blair's record instead of building on it and failing to spell out an agenda for the future, according to the scathing note penned after last September's chaotic Labour party conference. Such tactics would not win the next election, he concluded.
The note leaked to the Mail on Sunday newspaper now threatens to trigger open warfare within New Labour, with its emergence so soon after David Miliband's broadside against the Prime Minister which was seen as part of an orchestrated plot to destabilise Brown by those loyal to his predecessor.
Prison doesn't work, but Welfare does.
DDave3 Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 11:42:45 AM GMT
Facebook
As of 2008 there has been a well documented crisis of overcrowding in Britain's prisons. The country has the highest rate of imprisonment in Europe, with 143 people per 100,000 of the population in gaol. The figure for Germany is 97 (who have a twenty million more populace), and for France 88. A policy focusing mainly on the criminal justice system has run up against its limits. Being tough on crime cannot be equated with being tough on the criminal. The Labour government has relied too heavily on the criminal justice system, primarily through their desperation to not be seen as 'weak on crime'. Tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime isn't just a sound-bite, but, if elaborated properly, a sound policy principle.
