One of the most encouraging signs of the Prime Minister's new team was the appointment of John Denham MP to be the Secretary of State for the new Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills. In his first major move he has announced new financial arrangements to provide greater assistance to University students, which will eventually be worth £400m.
My first point is that the appointment of John Denham to the Cabinet will be well received within the Labour Party. Mr Denham was a Home Office Minister four years ago and resigned over the vexed issue of Iraq. He stated his reasons for doing so publicly and then got on with his job as being MP, he did not parade himself around the studios of the Westminster village forever exploiting the issue. His decision was principled but has earned much respect for doing so. He is likeable and independent minded, well done Gordon for this decision to offer him a role.
Secondly and obviously this move is welcome and hopefully a sign that the Brown government will try and heal some of the damage caused by the more extreme and daft decisions made in the Blair era. Probably there was little option to go down the road of tuition fees, but as much must be done as possible to encourage the poor and working-class to aspire to a university education. Social mobility seems to have ossified recently and remember this is a Labour government.
Hopefully this move is a portent to more wise decisions from the new government. Uncle Arthur is optimistic that it will not be a one-off.
Friday, 6 July 2007
Uncle Arthur - On the Radio
Last week on the eve of the Prime Minister's first cabinet Uncle Arthur was asked to speak briefly to a radio station to speak about his new team.
This was a great opportunity albeit to a limited audience to raise the standard for credible christian engagement in politics. I briefly inferred that there would be fresh faces in the new cabinet, he had a cluster of talented junior ministers, some of whom would be promoted. I referred to Liam Byrne, Andy Burnham, James Purnell, Yvette Cooper, Ed Miliband and I guess Ed Balls fits in what that generation. Also, although some experienced people were understood to be on their way (Beckett, Reid Hewitt) there would be a delicate balance of youth and experience.
However, I was particularly pleased to be able to talk about the significance of this moment for the church. Whatever the reality of the 'Son of the Manse' really means, christians should see this as an opportunity. The government have been a bit ham-fisted in dealing with faith issues, sometimes being aggressively secular and on occassions arrogant. Within Brown's worldview is an openness to what faith can and should contribute in the public square. Equally, the church needs to find a credible, biblical and positive way to engage in politics. We need to be involved, speaking into the system and not screaming at it, which sometimes happens. For some christians, it is the time to have their calling affirmed, for politics should be seen as public service and for the christian a clear consequence of seek th extend the kingdom of God.
The Prime Minister has called for a public life rooted in values. Where did he get that notion from?
This was a great opportunity albeit to a limited audience to raise the standard for credible christian engagement in politics. I briefly inferred that there would be fresh faces in the new cabinet, he had a cluster of talented junior ministers, some of whom would be promoted. I referred to Liam Byrne, Andy Burnham, James Purnell, Yvette Cooper, Ed Miliband and I guess Ed Balls fits in what that generation. Also, although some experienced people were understood to be on their way (Beckett, Reid Hewitt) there would be a delicate balance of youth and experience.
However, I was particularly pleased to be able to talk about the significance of this moment for the church. Whatever the reality of the 'Son of the Manse' really means, christians should see this as an opportunity. The government have been a bit ham-fisted in dealing with faith issues, sometimes being aggressively secular and on occassions arrogant. Within Brown's worldview is an openness to what faith can and should contribute in the public square. Equally, the church needs to find a credible, biblical and positive way to engage in politics. We need to be involved, speaking into the system and not screaming at it, which sometimes happens. For some christians, it is the time to have their calling affirmed, for politics should be seen as public service and for the christian a clear consequence of seek th extend the kingdom of God.
The Prime Minister has called for a public life rooted in values. Where did he get that notion from?
Word for the week - 1 John 4v9
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only son into the world that we might live through him" 1 John 4v9.
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