The manifestos of the two main alternative parties at the extreme ends of the political spectrum are gaining some support from voters. Both are driven by the egos of populist leaders, despite targeting different demographic groups. They should be taken seriously since voters are being drawn to them. Reform has gained considerable support for being against the Conservative government. The Workers Party similarly aims to attract those dissatisfied with the policies of the Labour Party that are not hard left enough. However, they are hampered by voters who see Labour as the best way to expel the Tories. But the dangers of extremism are evident and both movements could come full circle. Just imagine a leader who managed to find common ground and bring together the elements of extreme nationalism and revolutionary socialism into one national socialist movement.
Reform or perish.
The Reform Party occupies the short wavelength high energy end of the spectrum as it takes out a ‘contract’ on the voters with ‘Our Contract with You’. They are now a force to be reckoned with as they field a staggering 609 candidates . The manifesto is a rehash of an earlier draft that promotes populist extreme views to attract disaffected Conservative voters. Everything needs ‘reform’ and the offering revolves around the cult that is Nigel Farage. So much so, that we might expect a ‘Little Blue Book’ to emerge in time.
Control of education.
Much of its offering revolves around tackling woke culture, building character, and not accepting that,
“Divisive, ‘woke’ ideology has captured our public institutions”.
The earlier draft was more explicit on education with,
“Woke ideology is spreading through our schools and universities. We want an education system that ensures young people learn the skills, character and values to succeed in life”.
Following on with the theme of control in an “education system that ensures young people are proud of Britain”, teaching in schools will be,
“A Patriotic Curriculum in Primary and Secondary Schools”.
Of course, it doesn’t stop there. Universities will come in for heavy-handed censorship and a promise to exclude violent and disruptive students and,
“Cut funding to universities that undermine free speech……..Allowing political bias or cancel culture must face heavy financial penalties”.
Reform of funding.
Needless to say, none of the funding adds up. That’s a populist minor irritation.
The education plans are rounded off at £5bi per year and the impact of some policies on costs seems to have eluded Reform. Student loans would remain, but they would restrict numbers and,
“Scrap Interest on Student Loans. Extend loan capital repayment periods to 45 years. Restrict undergraduate numbers well below current levels, too many courses are not good enough and students are being ripped off. Enforce minimum entry standards”.
The impact of charging no interest on student loans on the government finances has not been thought out. There are better alternatives, but they haven’t thought further about this. Then it gets worse. To further reduce student debt, university courses would be over two years at the same price. Clearly, Farage doesn’t understand university education and the expected standards at all.
The overall impression is that there would be a significant drive to privatisation across most public sectors. On education, this is clear with a plan for no VAT on fees and “Tax relief of 20% on all Independent Education”. This is based on the idea that,
“If parents can afford to pay a bit more, we should incentivise them to choose independent schools. This will significantly ease pressure on state schools and improve education for all”.
Hardly, it would be a significant subsidy probably funded through the rest of the taxpayers and cuts in state education. Then again, what can you expect from someone with a well-off upbringing, who went to an independent fee-paying school and didn’t go to university?
Workers at the other end of the spectrum.
The red end of the spectrum is long wavelength and low energy. The Workers Party occupies this position with its manifesto ‘Britain Deserves Better’. It offers a hard left position to attract disaffected revolutionary socialists disenchanted with the Labour Party. Like Reform at the other end of the spectrum, if caters for extreme views. Unlike the others, however, the Workers Party has embraced commercialisation and you can buy a copy for £4.49.
The success of the Workers Party relies on the charismatic George Galloway who, unlike Nigel Farage, will be defending his seat in parliament. His position on supporting Palestine gained him a substantial protest vote against other parties. It is therefore highly likely that a section of the electorate will follow suit across the 153 candidates standing. They must be taken seriously. Who they are and what they represent is visible to voters including Louise Anne Dickens in Sunak’s constituency who pledges,
“Education for All: I pledge to work towards providing quality education and training opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances”.
What about higher education?
This is encapsulated in two statements that mean a massive expansion of the university sector.
“We would change the model for education entirely. First, by guaranteeing a right to a free tuition first degree that could be taken at any time during one’s life so as to end the pressure for young people to take on debt before they have an idea what they want to do with their lives”.
“The guarantee of a free university first degree for everyone which can be to be taken at any time in their life”.
They refer to an earlier consultation document ‘Mini-Manifesto on Youth and Education’. Here the objective is,
“Universities are now private business entities. We will, therefore, bring our complex and out-of-control University system back under national scrutiny, whilst scrapping tuition fees and ensuring guarantees for full academic freedom”.
They support vocational work and apprenticeships whilst “de-privileging the machinery of mass university education”. Because they see a lack of technical institutes,
“Some universities in the former polytechnic sector should now be converted into such institutes”.
Oddly they blame the recent expansion of the university sector “beyond its value to society” entirely on Labour when the conservatives must surely shoulder most of the ‘blame’. Then there is their jaundiced view of universities that might resonate amongst some voters.
“Universities are designed to fund an overweight and inefficient academic sector, whose main purpose is to earn foreign currency, through attracting overseas students”.
Chilling proposals will frighten some.
Whilst the current Conservative administration has often been accused of trying to control our universities by various underhand means, it seems the Workers Party is less shy about similar aims.
“We will also be bringing all universities under national administrative control. The so-called elite universities such as Oxford and Cambridge can no longer expect to function as finishing schools for the upper middle classes, cherry picking working class and ethnic minority students, and turning them into second division members of the elite”.
A funding black hole.
Here the whole project unravels. There is no rational explanation about the means of achieving state control of our universities other than,
“Universities are now private business entities. We will, therefore, bring our complex and out-of-control University system back under national scrutiny, whilst scrapping tuition fees and ensuring guarantees for full academic freedom”.
Furthermore, on graduate debt, there is no ready solution. Perhaps it’s too difficult for them to work out (?)
“We will undertake a review of this debt, with a mind to reduce or eliminate it over time”.
Common ground.
Both parties seek to exert control over universities, and this represents a danger to our society that is built on democracy and freedom of expression. Both are fielding a significant number of candidates and must not be ignored. The voters might want to look more closely at the motives, background and experience of the candidates. It the current crop of MPs seem bad, just imagine MPs from these parties in charge. The warnings are there in print and we should beware of the road it leads to.
The author, Mike Larkin, retired from Queen’s University Belfast after 37 years teaching Microbiology, Biochemistry and Genetics.