Every day of school is precious. And each day of learning loss can be hugely damaging — something students, parents and teachers know all too well following the vast chaoswrought by Covid-19.
But there is yet more to come. Members of the National Education Union are on strike tomorrow and Friday, having rejected a pay offer from the Government that included an average pay rise of 4.5 per cent next year, in addition to a one-off payment of £1,000.
Ministers are rightly mindful of both the fiscal and macro-economic dangers of above-inflation pay rises. Yet it must know that salaries are critical not only to recruit new teachers but to retain the ones leaving the profession in their droves — particularly in the capital, where living costs are highest and skilled workers are in demand.
Poor relations between the unions and Education Secretary are a further complicating factor. Meanwhile, hints from the PM that he may ignore the recommendations of the independent pay review body are unlikely to help. The reality is both sides need each other.
Teachers deserve a decent pay rise and the Government, on behalf of parents and pupils, needs teachers to stay in the classroom.
New Tory sideshow
Meet the latest internal Tory faction. Not content with stratifying into the European Research Group, the Covid Recovery Group, the One Nation Group, the Net Zero Scrutiny Group or the Blue Collar Conservatives, backbench MPs has formed the New Conservatives.
The Right-wing pressure group has launched with demands for the Prime Minister to do more to reduce immigration, even if that means scrapping Health and Care visas introduced to plug the chronic shortages in our NHS and care sectors. It is easy to mock such groupings and policies — Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson didn’t even show up to the launch despite being billed to speak.
But such views have a constituency in this country, and may hold great sway in any future Conservative Party leadership election. At which point, the joke won’t be funny anymore.
Burberry is back
Luxury fashion house Burberry reopens the doors to its flagship London store on New Bond Street today, following a two-year renovation. It boasts overhead lighting crafted to replicate the iconic Burberry check, in a nod to the brand’s unique heritage.
It is also a reminder that London remains one of the world’s foremost luxury shopping destinations. One that could be even better if the Government reversed its counter-productive tourist tax.
