Nick Clegg - do as I say, not as I do!

[VoziKaoFangio]

Adrian W said:

Does Clegg live in the catchment area? or don't the normal rules apply to him?

Just after I made my point about Tony Blair, I looked this up. It doesn't have a catchment area.

http://www.london-oratory.org/tlos/htdocs/document...

So I guess Tony wasn't cheating the system either. I'd like to understand, though, how a Comprehensive state school like this can turn away non-Catholics in the area and take pupils from as far out as the M25. Oh yeah. Religion trumps all. I forgot. And, evidently, they have a taste for giving places to the children of famous/influential parents, even those who are atheists. Rotten system. Bit disappointed in Clegg that he's taking advantage of it, but hey, it's his choice, and the school is pretty close to home. Much as I hate the ethos of the place and the Catholic Church, I'd be sorely tempted to send children there if I lived round the corner. But then, as a non-famous atheist, would they offer a place to my children? Doubt it.

[VoziKaoFangio]

V8mate said:

I've read the thread and made my comment in a very particular way, the sentiment of which readers will have understood.

So do please fk off, you patronising tt.

Crikey. As it goes, your post had no particular insinuation in my eyes, due to its brevity and clarity. I didn't get your sentiment, obviously.

[turbobloke]

VoziKaoFangio said:

V8mate said:

Quite. He'd get properly beaten up in a local comp.

It is a local comp. Not the first time it's been pointed out on this thread.

It's hardly a boggo comp though. It's a former grammar school, a former grant-maintained school, and is single sex to 16 with a co-ed sixth-form. An element of selection remained until 2006. It became a voluntary aided school in 1999.

As to Clegg, this is par for the course. Fiona Millar may not be pleased.

[otolith]

It is quite correct that someone should send his children to the school he thinks is best for them.

It is questionable why he thinks that what is best for his children is not best for other people's children.

[turbobloke]

otolith said:

It is questionable why he thinks that what is best for his children is not best for other people's children.

It is indeed. The edge starts early.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/leaguetables/...

[Blackpuddin]

Folk like Clegg and Abbott are actually doing us a favour by banging the last nails into the coffin of an utterly broken political system. Their self-regarding arrogance, hubris and hypocrisy helps us to remember what an absolute shower most politicians are. Another one coming up fast on the oily rails is Grant Shapps, or Michael Green as I believe he is sometimes called.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/27/lab...

[fido]

It is also alleged that he also viewed a flat that a friend of mine was selling in Putney. Presumably as part of his >£2m+ BTL portfolio. One rule for .. blah .. another rule for ..

[VoziKaoFangio]

fido said:

Presumably as part of his >£2m+ BTL portfolio. One rule for .. blah .. another rule for ..

Do no other people have <£2m+ BTL portfolios then? What change in the law is Nick Clegg proposing to prevent people other than himself owning such?

[otolith]

VoziKaoFangio said:

fido said:

Presumably as part of his >£2m+ BTL portfolio. One rule for .. blah .. another rule for ..

Do no other people have <£2m+ BTL portfolios then? What change in the law is Nick Clegg proposing to prevent people other than himself owning such?

A reference to his "mansion tax".

[VoziKaoFangio]

otolith said:

A reference to his "mansion tax".

Which I'm sure he'd pay if it were introduced and it applied to him personally. Is someone trying to say otherwise? If not, what point is being made?

[Victor McDade]

I'm no fan of Clegg but can't see what the problem is here.

His son went to a state Catholic primary school, his wife is a Catholic and he's stated previously that his kids have been brought up as Catholics. Why change it all now?

Edited by Victor McDade on Monday 4th March 17:03

[otolith]

Actually, it looks as if he has consistently and publically disagreed with the party line on this matter - in which case I don't have a problem with his actions.

[Twincam16]

HundredthIdiot said:

I am an atheist but send my kids to a state Catholic school, because there are only two schools within walking distance and the other one is a rat-infested craphole.

Criticizing the system itself whilst doing your best within the system is just pragmatism. I don't think it's hypocrisy unless you criticise other people for doing the same.

True - you can continue to say that a particular situation isn't right, whilst acknowledging that you can't change said situation overnight and will just make the best of it instead. I personally think public schools are fundamentally wrong and access to them should be granted by demonstrating academic ability rather than a parents' ability to cough up cash, but I wouldn't have a go at anyone for sending kids to them under the current system. I also think the education system needs a thorough overhaul with the current comprehensive schools focusing just as strongly on complex technical skills and apprenticeships in order to complement the public schools I'd convert into de facto Grammars, but there you go.

I wouldn't say Clegg's decision smacks of hypocrisy, but what it does seem like is defeatism - he's pretty-much acknowledging that he doesn't have the power to change the system into what he wants, despite being the deputy PM.

The education system in this country is dire though. The fact that a civilised country discriminates largely on parental income and religion rather than the pupil's actual ability is the sort of thing you'd expect in some creaky old Middle Eastern monarchy or oligarchy. How many minds are going to waste under the current educational regime, and how many people who don't truly deserve it are finding themselves old-boy-networked into positions of influence and authority they don't really deserve? It's a joke.

Edited by Twincam16 on Monday 4th March 15:32

[Grandfondo]

Victor McDade said:

I'm no fan of Clegg but can't see what the problem is here.

His son went to a state Catholic primary school, his wife is a Catholic and he's stated previously that his kids have been brought up as Catholics. Why change it all now?

Because when politics,religion and football get discussed then bigotry comes out without people realising!

[VoziKaoFangio]

otolith said:

Actually, it looks as if he has consistently and publically disagreed with the party line on this matter - in which case I don't have a problem with his actions.

So it's a non story on every level then. Case closed.

[alock]

VoziKaoFangio said:

otolith said:

A reference to his "mansion tax".

Which I'm sure he'd pay if it were introduced and it applied to him personally. Is someone trying to say otherwise? If not, what point is being made?

His house is worth about £1.6m and he wants to introduce it at the £2m level. Just another one of those coincidences I suppose?

[Victor McDade]

Blackpuddin said:

Another one coming up fast on the oily rails is Grant Shapps, or Michael Green as I believe he is sometimes called.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/27/lab...

article said:

Grant Shapps, using the name Michael Green, told audiences in 2007 that they could 'make $20,000 in 20 days guaranteed or your money back' if they bought his software.

I think we've found our answer to Britain's economic woes. Just hand out his software to all of us.

[NomduJour]

Twincam16 said:

how many people who don't truly deserve it are finding themselves old-boy-networked into positions of influence and authority they don't really deserve?

Not convinced it really exists in professional life. University choice (where positive discrimination in favour of state schools does exist) is a far bigger factor in employment.

[V8mate]

NomduJour said:

Twincam16 said:

how many people who don't truly deserve it are finding themselves old-boy-networked into positions of influence and authority they don't really deserve?

Not convinced it really exists in professional life.

It certainly exists in politics. The number of recent and next election candidates who are the kids of policitians from the 70s-90s is quite astonishing.

[Blackpuddin]

Victor McDade said:

Blackpuddin said:

Another one coming up fast on the oily rails is Grant Shapps, or Michael Green as I believe he is sometimes called.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/27/lab...

article said:

Grant Shapps, using the name Michael Green, told audiences in 2007 that they could 'make $20,000 in 20 days guaranteed or your money back' if they bought his software.

I think we've found our answer to Britain's economic woes. Just hand out his software to all of us.

It's the 'helicopter money' theory, with a twist: it all lands in Grant Shapps-Green's back garden.