A reply to Iain Dale

While I was out at various meetings this evening, I had a message from Iain Dale. I am very grateful to him for pointing out that the Tory flip-flop, u-turn or back track (call it what you will) on Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs] extends back as far as January 2008.

The evidence:

- Chris Grayling, January 2005: “Bribing young people to sign up for courses they may not complete might make ministers’ targets look achievable – but [EMAs] do absolutely nothing to help solve this country’s chronic skills shortage.”

- David Cameron, November 2007: “we think there are some really practical problems and issues with that sort of compulsion”

- Michael Gove, January 2008: [Asked if was in favour of EMAs] Yes, absolutely

- Michael Gove, August 2008: Claimed it was a flop and, according to the Guardian, “said fewer than 400 extra children eligible for free school meals (FSM) had stayed on after finishing GCSEs since 2004, despite the introduction of the EMA at a cost of £924m.”

- David Cameron, January 2009: Says again that “Yes” he supports EMAs.

And while we’re on the subject, why has only one Conservative MP signed the Early Day Motion on “the extension of education maintenance allowance to over half a million young people.”

So much for “Game, set, match”, I wonder if Iain Dale will even acknowledge his error.

http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/7492663130 Will Straw

A reply to @IainDale: More evidence on Tory EMA flip flop @SamuelCoates @KerryMP @SaveEMA @DavidWrightMP http://bit.ly/68JZ0e
Chris Jones

I wouldn’t put money on it.

It would be lovely if Iain got off his high horse once in a while, especially given that his errors seem to be getting more frequent!
Chris Jones

I wouldn’t put money on it!

It would be nice to see Iain get off his high horse once in while. He seems to be quick to criticise others, but rather slow to acknowledge his own mistakes!
Chris Jones

Sorry, hadn’t realised the first one had posted :S
http://twitter.com/chrisplol/status/7494650567 Chris Paul

RT @wdjstraw: A reply to @IainDale: More evidence on Tory EMA flip flop @SamuelCoates @KerryMP @SaveEMA @DavidWrightMP http://bit.ly/68JZ0e
http://twitter.com/bloggerheads/status/7494674559 Tim Ireland

RT @wdjstraw: A reply to @IainDale: More evidence on Tory EMA flip flop @SamuelCoates @KerryMP @SaveEMA @DavidWrightMP http://bit.ly/68JZ0e
http://www.bloggerheads.com/ Tim Ireland

“He seems to be quick to criticise others, but rather slow to acknowledge his own mistakes!”

And the first to demand to know what right anyone has to criticise or challenge him. Strangely, he fares quite well in the now-annual poll of blogs that he conducts.
http://twitter.com/psbook/status/7495922953 Political Scrapbook

Can't believe @iaindale is trying to keep this going –> http://bit.ly/4DsHgx and @wdjstraw's response –> http://bit.ly/68JZ0e
http://politicalscrapbook.net/ Political Scrapbook

How many times can the Tories change their minds about this initiative in four years?

As for linking to Liberal Conspiracy, OfBlog’s chief executive will not be impressed.

You’ve really done it now, Will!
http://twitter.com/beefqueen/status/7496256479 beefqueen

RT @psbook Can't believe @iaindale is trying to keep this going –> http://bit.ly/4DsHgx and @wdjstraw's response –> http://bit.ly/68JZ0e
http://www.ubervu.com/conversations/www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/a-reply-to-iain-dale/ uberVU – social comments

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by wdjstraw: A reply to @IainDale: More evidence on Tory EMA flip flop @SamuelCoates @KerryMP @SaveEMA @DavidWrightMP http://bit.ly/68JZ0e...
http://www.bloggerheads.com/ Tim Ireland

Will’s already had the audacity to be related to someone Iain doesn’t like, but the folks at home should be warned that Iain Dale does have an unstated (but widely recognised) policy of treating people he disagrees with as unpersons, refusing them his red-hot linky love.
http://www.bloggerheads.com/ Tim Ireland

Sorry, that was incorrect, Iain’s policy relates to people who dare voice their disagreement with him. (Or prove that he’s wrong or lying. He *hates* that.)
http://twitter.com/anthonypainter/status/7513321437 Anthony Painter

RT @thedancingflea: I love @wdjstraw's reply to @iaindale on @leftfootfwd – cements the pt. on evidence-based blogging! http://bit.ly/68JZ0e
http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/01/08/how-the-tories-have-flip-flopped-on-education/ Liberal Conspiracy » How the Tories have flip-flopped on education

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