Rather lovely piece by @henrymance.ft.com on why language learning still matters to him in a world of AI translation
on.ft.com/3Jviyry

The government managed to recruit only 43 per cent of its target number of modern foreign language teachers for initial teacher training in 2024-25.
www.thetimes.com/article/df90...

I’ve been quoted in @thespectator1828.bsky.social about the importance of taking a strategic approach nationally to language provision as universities are making individual decisions to slash provision which may collectively be very bad for the national interest
www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-p...

The Starmer government has not produced an uptodate hate crime strategy (which last existed in 2016-2020) or a cohesion plan

If the government had an analysis of the causes/drivers of racism & hate crime × a strategy to respond, these comments could be more informed & sound less instrumental.

Or it is enjoying a tax system not fit for purpose

If you’re a mum raising a child alone, your childcare has got more expensive, your food shop has got more expensive, and your cash transfers have been cut, you are worse off than under the old policy mix regardless of whether your job is “shop assistant” “arts administrator” or “banker”.

Is there not also a difference from Milliband in that they continue to punch down on the most vulnerable?

Those that did at mine were suspended or expelled…

Reform now plan to cut EU nationals out of universal credit (ditch the UK-EU withdrawal treaty unilaterally). But this could have significant impacts on British citizens in Europe, and on the UK-EU relationship on economics, trade
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Is there a moment you’d point to when this began or has it always been the case?

how is this even real