Meeting held on Monday 19th September 2016
5 people were present and 4 gave their apologies
Although only 5 people were present and our usual contributions from a Green perspective were not available a lively set of discussions on topics raised by current concerns resulted in an interesting session.
HMRC. It was felt that the lack of effectiveness in the way that HMRC collects tax is detrimental to the public finances. The closeness of the relationship with Big Business resulting in preferential treatment of large multinationals negotiated by senior civil servants who then move to these very companies on retirement needs to be more tightly controlled. The major reductions in staff and funding at HMRC seem to limit investigation into sophisticated tax avoidance schemes as well as handing the more day to day work efficiently. The ability of wealthy individuals to avoid tax almost completely requires radical changes in tax law to tax wealth such land as well as income.
Grammar Schools. The new Tory policy to allow expansion of existing Grammars and allowing any academy or free school to convert can be seen as a sop to parts of the Tory party but goes against all the evidence that this out of date system increases inequality for the majority of children. There is evidence that even within the Grammar schools the streaming of pupils works against those from lower income groups who have managed to make it through the selection at 11+. However Labour, in power from1997 to 2010, had ample opportunity to phase out the167 remaining but did nothing. It should be a priority for any future centre left administration to develop a coherent system from Early Years to Further, Adult and Higher Education.
Brief discussions around a progressive agenda for the left included consideration of the concept of a Universal Basic Income (Citizens Income) and the decrease in accountability being seen, especially in the areas of Healthcare and Education.
The outcome and aftermath of the Labour leadership contest will, we were sure, loom large in our future conversations. Progressive alliances and other strategies to build an anti-Tory/UKIP majority may have to come more into focus.