The changing face of Britain

Nevertheless, many are now concerned at the level of immigration into Britain, not least in light of recent revelations concerning the appalling performance of the UK Border Agency which rightly led to it being scrapped by Home Secretary Theresa May.

Figures produced by Oxford University’s Migration Observatory are now certain to add weight to the argument that we are taking on too many, too quickly, showing as they do that the foreign-born population of Yorkshire and the Humber has jumped by nearly 80 per cent over the course of the last decade.

While this still puts the region below the national average in terms of the proportion of overseas-born inhabitants, it raises significant questions about the future face of Yorkshire and Britain as a whole.

Part of the problem lies in the fact that integration was considered a dirty word under Labour, which appeared to champion the notion of separateness with scant regard for the long-term consequences.

The legacy of this myopia can be seen in cities such as Bradford, where too many communities are closed off from one another, forming barriers which can breed distrust and resentment. Given current tensions, this situation is neither helpful nor healthy.

Then there is the expected influx of Romanians and Bulgarians – at a predicted rate of 75,000 a year – when work restrictions on those two countries’ citizens are removed in January.

The fact that Britain has so little power over the flow of such migrants into this country, coupled with the dire track record of our own agencies tasked with controlling and tracking those who come here, means it is all but impossible to carry out the long-term planning necessary to ensure infrastructure such as schools and healthcare services can cope. Many will think the first step for David Cameron should now be to wrest back some control from the EU over the former, while redoubling efforts to get a long overdue grip on the latter.

Challenges teaching Shakespeare

IT was inevitable that Education Secretary Michael Gove would press ahead with his reform of GCSE exams after last year’s fiasco over the marking of English papers exposed huge differentials in pass-rates for the same test.

That said, Mr Gove’s changes – which will inevitably be opposed by the teaching unions who are fed up with the perpetual cycle of change – will only work if care is taken over their introduction so that they command the confidence of pupils, parents, teachers, universities and businesses. Nothing less will suffice.

Given that the top Tory is a hands-on politician when it comes to setting the school syllabus, many will welcome his promise of less coursework, the need for essay-style answers to history exams, a greater focus on algebra during maths lessons and English students studying Shakespeare and other classic writers in depth.

Such themes have certainly been compromised by the dilution of the syllabus as Labour sought to drive up the headline pass-rate to record levels each year.

Yet Mr Gove needs to be careful. While it is right that bright pupils are pushed to the limit of their academic abilities, a significant proportion of youngsters still do not have a grasp of basic literacy and numeracy skills when they leave primary school. To them, just being able to write simple sentences will be an achievement, never mind grasping the nuances of Shakespeare. And another point needs to be made. The Education Secretary’s objectives will only be met if there is a sufficient pool of inspirational teachers. It is a lesson that he has still to learn.

Wanted: a consumer champion

ANOTHER week and another banking scandal, the latest being disturbing revelations about how staff at the nationalised Lloyds Banking Group showed total contempt for customers who sought compensation after being mis-sold PPI insurance.

The shameful practice, which encouraged call centre staff to forge documents in order to invalidate legitimate claims for payouts, further undermines the public’s fragile trust in the banks – and justifies the Government’s desire to introduce new legislation to strengthen the rights of consumers.

The regret is that the draft rules will do little more than enshrine existing protocols – such as the right of customers to return shoddy goods to shops – into law. They will not assist those who have been betrayed by the latest examples of malpractice. And it will certainly not empower the ordinary person on the street who does not have the confidence to stand up to officialdom.

As well as imploring Lloyds to undertake an urgent investigation, the Government should examine how consumer rights laws can be applied to the financial services industry. After all, banks should have nothing to fear if they treat customers fairly – a basic right that can no longer be guaranteed.