Verdant Examines the Coalition's Proposals for Change

What 'radical change' actually means

At Verdant, we love ‘change’ as much as the next person. It shows a healthy disrespect for the status quo and presents an opportunity to try new things, often with huge advantages for us all. Evolution, in fact, depends on it, and therefore our very survival.   

Yet even we have been taken aback by the amount of ‘change’ and ‘radical change’ in that we have seen cropping up in the media every day.  It seems that from day one of the Conservative / Lib Dem coalition, the amount of radical change needed by the country has increased daily, and with the publication of a ruthless budget and a determination to bed in a ‘new politics’ has seen the  disassembling of much of what the Labour Party put in place during their tenure.

Much of it might be semantics, but we thought we’d have a look and see just how ‘radical’* some of the coalition’s plans actually were. These are some of the ideas we like and the ones we think need pause for thought.

The proposed GPs’ shake up is radical in the true sense of the word. If this goes through we will be the only country in the world to do this. It is an interesting idea to give control of local health services to GPs due to their ‘front line’ association with local communities, but the quality of the relationship with individual patients might vary depending on where the practice is and whether the GP is a ‘commissioner’ or ‘provider’.  The idea is proving popular with GPs though there is a suspicion that the project could lead to privatisation via the ‘back door’.  One wonders whether the coalition has done the background work to understand the desire and viability of such a radical scheme!? In principal we like the idea that GPs are the first point of contact with “customers” and that the role of the patient is central. Of all the potential changes, the idea that the emphasis will be on outcomes rather than targets is potentially powerful – targets have been an often overused and blunt tool. Targets are good in many situations but irrelevant to a patient who is ill. In such circumstances, a picture of what is likely to happen and what they should expect is potentially far more meaningful. More work needs to be done though and it is important that GPs are actually keen for this change and transition. Hopefully the impending White Paper will shed further light on the situation.

The possibility that current bus subsidies will be scrapped is also radical, though we don’t like this one so much... We understand that the idea is to protect major rail projects but it will have an impact both socially and environmentally. Rural communities, old aged pensioners and other vulnerable groups will all be affected by higher prices and a poorer service. Should the planned cuts go ahead, we would like to see a transition period and intensive collaboration with local and national government to reduce the number of people using cars and increase bus use. This is a cross Government issue affecting many Departments including Communities, Defra and the Department for Transport as well as Local Authorities. We need some imaginative and joined up thinking on this one.

The ‘one-in-one out’ policy for regulation is aimed at cutting red tape and reducing bureaucracy ... No new rules unless one is scrapped at the same time – a simply lovely reflection in the decluttering trend. A great idea which we love!

The Lib Dem idea of a pupil premium is not such a radical idea and was endorsed by all three main parties during the election campaign. It is scandalous that even today a quarter of adults have literacy problems even though schools already prioritise groups of vulnerable children. The jury’s still out it seems as to how much change we will actually see on this. We also like the idea that the volume of guidance to schools will be cut significantly as it had reached frightening proportions under the last administration and the energy and commitment schools needed to devote to this was amazing. We would also prefer these resources, as well as significant amounts of money, are focussed on making the schools we have really good rather than funding new schools, and think that this would in turn encourage our most able parents to direct their focus on what we have, rather than looking to build something new. Here, radical and creative thinking is again necessary, and we would like to see greater emphasis on giving teachers the pedagogical resources they need to get the best out of children and on diversity and tolerance.

Each area has its own specific requirements but below are some suggestions to get them on their way:

* Radical can mean a fundamental change in current practices, arising from or going to the root or source or it can mean irrational or even fanatical.