Author Archives: Steve Bolter

Opinion: The need for positive engagement on the school exam system

The media are premature in supposing that the Liberal Democrats will divide the Coalition by blocking changes to the school exam system. I hope that Conference will provide the opportunity for discussion of the exam system and that positive engagement will produce something far better than Gove’s initial outline proposals suggest.

Liberal Democrats should welcome the proposal for a reduction in the number of exam boards and call for them to be independent of commercial organisations such as text book publishers. We should call for a better balance of experienced teachers, educationalists and subject specialists, from universities or industry, on subject boards.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 13 Comments

Opinion: Caroline Lucas is wrong

As a campaigner on environmental issues since the 1960s, I have admired the way Caroline Lucas has publicly championed green issues. However, while I am sad that the Lib Dems have not been able to implement all of their manifesto, I am even sadder that Caroline’s lust for power has overtaken her commitment to the environmental cause.

While the Green Party has played an important role in helping inform the public, it has only a very small proportion of councillors and just one UK MP. The Liberal Democrats, with their far greater number of councillors, their participation in the Coalition …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 23 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • Chris Caswill
    Thanks for this, Joe. I am only missing a Wealth Tax option. I also support the comments from the two David’s, Allen and Warren. Four problems with Burnham�...
  • Nonconformistradical
    @David Raw "A few facts before the few remaining nonconformist radical little blue ribbon temperance Liberals decide to leave this party. I, for one, dislike h...
  • paul barker
    The Green Party motion was a great example of the dishonesty that puts a lot of people off Politics. At no point does it actually call for the Dissolution of I...
  • David Warren
    The Green Party has been captured by similar forces to those that did the same thing to Labour during the Corbyn era. The problem they will have in the future i...
  • David Warren
    As the successor party to the one that raised taxes on the wealthy to fund the introduction of old age pensions I don't see why Liberals are now looking at taki...