What do people think about Beverley Hughes decision to step down as children's minister and as an MP at the next election? The feeling in the sector initially seems to be one of regret many feeling she knew her stuff. If Balls leaves his post at children's secretary to become chancellor one viewpoint has been that this will leave a large gap in those with experience of the children's sector in ministerial positions. It has also been raised that this is precisely what the sector does not need due to ministerial impetus being required behind the Baby P and Social Work taskforce reforms . Balls has had a bit of a mixed reception though so others may feel he is better off working back in economics. What do people think?
Will anybody notice she is gone? Balls is a disaster and would be better off on an island by himself, a truly smarmy horrible little man. I fail to see how Beverley Hughes working as a probation officer and SW lecturer equates to some kind of in-depth knowledge of social work or children. She would be kind of like laming. I don’t care who gets moved in as long as it it somebody who will listen and try to understand.
call my cynical, but i think its a long shot to have a politician "who will listen and try to understand." since when did they do that unless there was capital in it for them? the political capital balls made out of baby p springs to mind - check out this scathing blog on the matter by David Clark here
Muriel:call my cynical,
call my cynical,
They should just call a general election NOW and be done with it, else we will have ministerial change soon, then again in under a year - presuming that this current sham loose.
The game is over for New Labour. Captain Brown continues to move the deck-chairs, but the boat is fatally holed and will sink.
and what will happen to Phil Hope, care services minister? There is a huge amount of discontent about his expenses, not surprisingly, but this could throw a big spanner in the works with the long, long awaited. adult green paper coming up...a change of minister in charge of this really important piece of policy, combined with the economic outlook doesn't add up to anything particularly good
What do any of them know? Teacher, Lawyer, Estate Agent, researcher etc. one minute then MP and Minister or Secretary of State at somewhere or other the next. I trained for years to be an electrician, years to become a counsellor, and more years to become a Social Worker and still learning to become more experienced. This lot are not in the job for long enough before being rewarded by a better job. My own MP was a Lawyer and is now some sort of Minister at the Treasury and all she could manage to claim in expenses was a measly £153,000+ ! Dont let me get on to the MEP's
Still learning and willing to learn
Balls' career trajectory has been the most worrying on this score - Oxford, adviser to GB, then after 5 minutes as MP, hey presto, secretary of state for DSCF...I think they should all have to go and do community work in the poorest areas of the UK for 5 years, then teach in an inner-city school or work in a hospital for another 5, before being allowed to set foot in parliament. Up the revolution!
Looks like Ed Balls may be staying in post as the BBC is reporting that chancellor Alistair Darling will be staying in post. Looks like a move on the adult social care front though with Alan Johnson moving from the Department of Health to the Home Office.
Sounds like James Purnell was also "sounded out" about taking on Balls' post to Balls could become chancellor - not going to happen now, apparently
Bambam01: Will anybody notice she is gone? .. I fail to see how Beverley Hughes working as a probation officer and SW lecturer equates to some kind of in-depth knowledge of social work or children.
Will anybody notice she is gone? .. I fail to see how Beverley Hughes working as a probation officer and SW lecturer equates to some kind of in-depth knowledge of social work or children.
Bottom line is results! What has she done and how has she contributed to social work? Sorry, nothing comes to mind. Also she did not even train as a social worker but was a SW lecturer? What does this say about who teaches social work and the entry level to becoming a SW lecturer? As someone who has not finished my MA too long ago I would strongly advise for students to have lecturers that have at least been inside of a social work office in the last 10 years.
Some one I do respect is David Clark - reading his blog post made me feel that right now I'd like him to be the minister for Children, he comes across as a brave and honest man ...
“Anybody who witnessed the disgusting spectacle of politicians pillorying the social work profession after the death of Baby P cannot help but be revolted. Pandering to certain sections of the media, politicians of varying political hues were happy to put the boot in to social workers at every level. This preparedness to opine, wholly unencumbered by facts, shows politicians at their worst, and statements like “we must ensure that it never happens again” display politicians at their most stupid.” David Clark’s Blog