Freedom must have its limits

However, as is always the case with generously offered freedoms, there has been a tendency for a minority to abuse the trust placed in them and to use their stated good intentions as cover for incompetence or a variety of malpractices ranging from indoctrination to fraud.

Indeed, the extent of this is shown by the persistent proportion of emergency Ofsted inspections of private schools relating to concerns over “moral” and “spiritual” development of pupils. And this alone suggests current rules governing those allowed to run independent schools are inadequate.

The most recent causes for concern, however, have arisen from the Government’s reforms of state education which allow free schools and academies to be set up outside local-authority control. These have included alleged fraud at the Kings Science Academy in Bradford and the forced closure 
of al-Madinah, a Muslim free school in Derby, after Ofsted inspectors said it had descended into “chaos”.

Despite this, the Government insists that its plans for sweeping new powers to prevent unsuitable people from running schools apply solely to the private sector even although there is nothing in the proposed regulations which would prevent Education Secretary Michael Gove from intervening in the running of free schools and academies as well.

This attempted distinction is understandable given the Government’s notorious sensitivity over reforms which have met strong opposition from a large sector of the educational establishment.

It is not necessary to be an enemy of Mr Gove’s reforms, however, to be concerned at the possibility that the Government’s understandable eagerness to speed up the growth of free schools and academies may result in insufficient monitoring of the type of people who are volunteering to run them.

In fact, there could be no greater reassurance to parents than an admission that state and private schools alike are susceptible to mismanagement of this sort and a declaration that efforts to prevent it will be redoubled.

Ukraine’s hope - But will the West give support?

IN GIVING a surprisingly forthright warning to Russia not to interfere in Ukraine’s revolution, William Hague has given voice to the concerns of many.

In the two decades since Ukraine gained notional independence from the Soviet Union, Moscow has shown itself increasingly reluctant to allow a neighbour with such close cultural and linguistic ties to Russia to develop a distinctly separate identity.

Nor has outright military intervention been needed to achieve this. Political and economic pressure has usually been enough to keep Kiev within Moscow’s ambit.

For Vladimir Putin, therefore, the prospect of Ukraine slipping loose of his influence, particularly when it overshadows the success of his much-vaunted Winter Olympics in Sochi, will be deeply galling.

The Russian president, however, will take comfort in the knowledge that he has been here before. The so-called Orange Revolution of 2004 was supposed to usher in a new era of clean and democratic government, but the reformers proved so corrupt and incompetent that their predecessors were eventually voted back.

This is why Mr Hague’s warning should be directed to the West as much as Moscow. For, if the reformers are to triumph this time, they will need every encouragement from the Western backers in whom they have placed so much faith.

Even though Ukraine is divided into a Russian-speaking east and a western half which looks to Europe, the fact remains that much of the country is presently united by contempt for the rule of departed President Viktor Yanukovych and enthusiasm for Europe and the ideals of liberty that it still inspires.

This moment of opportunity will not last, but can the West grasp it? With Barack Obama’s international credibility at its lowest ebb after he was hopelessly outmanoeuvred by Mr Putin over Syria, the onus is now on Brussels and the nations of Europe to deal with Russia and ease Ukraine into their fold. Are the EU and its members really up to this task? Only time will tell.

Cold comfort - Public confident, politicians less so

IF Ed Miliband still believes there is mileage in Labour emphasising the cost of living, it seems that the voters themselves are trying to put him right.

For the latest consumer confidence survey by Lloyds Bank is showing the majority of people anticipating being better off over the coming months. And with inflation expected to remain under two per cent for the rest of the year, there is every prospect of wage growth overtaking cost-of-living rises.

But if there is concern here for Mr Miliband, there is little comfort for David Cameron either. For if confidence is indeed growing, it is stubbornly refusing to translate into support for the Government.

At the very least, this should prevent the Prime Minister from lapsing into complacency and remind him that, even though the recovery seems to be well underway, there is a long way to go before all parts of the country start feeling the benefit.