From the BBC:
Conservative plans for reducing red tape in the retail sector could lead to a 20,000 autonomous corner shops, the Association of Large State-Funded Retailers has warned. The poorest would suffer the most under Tory plans to let entrepreneurs set up "free shops" outside council control, said outgoing ALSFR head Dr John Dunford. He also warned against a "false belief" the market would improve standards.
The Tories say that "free shops" would raise standards through shorter queues, greater choice, longer opening hours and more customer involvement.
In his final speech to his association's conference as general secretary, Dr Dunford said large state-funded retailers had learned to work well together for the good of all customers their areas. "We want to see the new government build on this collaborative culture. We do not want to return to bad old days of dog-eat-dog entrepreneurship in false belief that a good dose of the market will improve standards."
Monday, 8 March 2010
A funny thing happened on the way to the corner shop (2)
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9 comments:
Isn't it odd, then, that the Tories want to nationalise independent schools and stop selection on ability?
Either they're confused, or they're hiding something. I suspect the latter.
L, this one was tongue in cheek, but your point still stands.
F, it is very worrying indeed, but I still think that the bad outweighs the good.
Did I miss the memo?
My current Middle Class Lefty Handbook has independent corner shops as being A Good Thing because of them being at the heart of their community, their diversity and how nicely they look after their suppliers.
JT, the full memo is up at the BBC, make up your own mind :-)
MW I did read the BBC memo before posting. And as Mrs Lola is entirely exploited by the State Run Education Shops......need I say more?
Well put indeed Mark.
I think you need to put "THIS IS SATIRE" or something at the beginning just so everybody gets it... :)
Lola,
Do schools still pay more for supplies than retail price like they used to?
L, feel free to swear away. What's the answer to JT's question?
AC, I could have done but that would spoil it.
Oh God I don't know what they pay for pencils and what not, but judging by the ijiots that run the place where she works I wouldn't be surprised. Tell you what though the budgeting is utterly bonkers. Mrs L does drama. Her school productons make a profit (she's listened to me over the years). If she doesn't spend that profit on something useful - lighting gear say - it immediately gets swallowed up in the school spending. The whole thing is entirely Kafkaesque.
The good news is that more and more good 'front line' teachers are beginning to realise just how they've been shafted and are looking for some sort of independence.
Going back to pencils, they're still seem to be welded to central purchasing through the LA.
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