1. Sort out the economy in general.

If that requires tough new laws (for some) and scrapping/reforming old ones, so be it. Admit that the PFI schemes are a colossal failure and scrap any future ones that do nothing for the taxpayer overall. Bare minimum, stop robbing Joe Average because you can, then p1ssing it up the wall anyway

2. Complete reform of Westminster, Commons and Lords.

Root and branch reform of expenses, perks, housing, hiring family members etc. Lobbying and undue influence. The nonsense of becoming a Lord because you've been a Yes person all your political life.

3. Stop joining in wars that have fcuk all to do with us.

ID cards - No
Random stop and search - No
Opening people's mail - No
Bin police - No
Pay as you throw - No
DNA database - Yes

I think the DNA database is good but you should only be entered on it if you are convicted, and not arrested. If you are a suspect then your DNA could be checked against it, but only entered permanently if you are then convicted.

Sod off. That DNA is mine and unless I've done anything wrong the State has no right to go collecting my DNA.

+1

There's a lot of evidence accruing to suggest that DNA may not be the wonder catch-all that we'd hoped, so I'd argue it's worth is limited at best.

1. Education - it's crap at the moment and has been for at least 30 years.

• The first test a child should undergo should be the 11-plus (if there are local grammar schools).
• They shouldn't do another until GCSE.
• Scrap League Tables
• Get rid of faith schools - that's right, I said it.
• Make University education the exception rather than the default. In order to do this:
• Shift funding from universities to vocational colleges and apprenticeships
• Revoke university status for all "new universities"
• All universities left to provide free catered accommodation
• Scrap tuition fees
• Provide a list of government-funded undergraduate courses - anything not on the list will not receive funding support
• Any UK graduate to be liable for course fees if he/she gets a job overseas within 5 years of graduating
• All UK nationals to complete 1 year national service (community, civil or military)
• Choice of schools to be restricted to families with a household income below £15k.
• Higher earning families to have their school places allotted by lottery

2. The Economy

• Need to drastically reduce our dependence on Banking industry
• Need to reverse the dominance of London and the South East
• Need to reverse decline of heavy manufacturing
• Break the influencing of food prices by big supermarkets
• Need a salary cap for management and non-productive staff.
• Ban ALL staff bonuses - all salaries and remuneration to be included in a single contracted headline figure

3. Public Service Reform

• Too many managers
• Too much paperwork
• Too many nonsense jobs
• Too much attention given to criminal justice and not enough to actually solving the issues
• Drug prohibition isn't working and is costing us millions - legalise, regulate and sell them in Boots
• Too many different forms of benefit
• The roads are knackered - sort out who can dig where and when.
• The railways are knackered - need new track and new lines
• The Telephone/broadband network is knackered

That'll do, donkey

I think DNA makes a useful aid but it shouldn't be relied upon completely. I would expect the prosecution to provide a motive etc. beyond all reasonable doubt.

Yes but they have not been that reasonable. The slightest excuse and you are on it.

I think I understand what you mean, but some level of testing is required at school.

As an example, let's look at my school career.

At primary school, we had spelling tests and tests on how well we'd memorised our times tables.

At middle school, we had spelling and maths tests to assess our progress.

At secondary school, we had tests at the end of each year to assess which stream/band/class we'd be in come September. In our fourth year we sat mock GCEs - those were proper exams, for the younger readers - which also had a bearing on our coming fifth year coursework and streaming.

So, yes to some kind of testing as a method of seeing how well a child is progressing through school, but no to the ridiculous testing for league tables.

My main issue with tests is the culture that surrounds them. My gripe is that children who do badly (or not quite as well as others) feel embarrassed or even ashamed of their results, and I fear that this puts them off. This is a culture that needs to change I feel, particularly those struggling should be given extra support.

Weighing a pig doesn't make it grow fat.

The education system is [LIFTED].
I'm buggered if I know what to do about it, but the only suggestion I'd make is that instead of having who ever's cheapest teaching at primary level, we get in specialists as you do for secondary.

Jim, I agree with most of what you say, but:


Why would you do that? Every adult wants the chance for their kid to go to the best school possible. Everyone should be given an equal chance, with those people in catchment areas getting priorities. If it's about schools going to kids with rich parents, then make it so that school can't get details about parents income until after the kid has been accepted into the school.

I would prefer that all schools were improved. Scrap the tables as they are distorted because some schools are better at teaching for the assessments. Does not mean the kids learn more. The whole concept of sending the kids to the best school was a fantasy. No school has ever closed, just replaced all the staff rename it and they are off again as some new academy.

My primary school closed, after eight years of being under special measures...