The Tories introduced the 50% strike ballot threshold to make industrial action harder. MATT WRACK argues that a Labour government has no justification for leaving it on the statute book
THE new head of Ofsted ran a chain of schools that get “good” and “outstanding” results — but do so with a worryingly high number of pupil exclusions.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan made Sir Martyn Oliver “His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools” — the head of schools’ regulator Ofsted — last month.
Keegan appointed Oliver because he was the longstanding boss of Outward Grange Academies Trust (OGAT), which runs 41 secondary and primary schools in north-east England and the Midlands. As Ofsted boss, he will be able to punish or praise schools, so he will have a big effect on school policy.
Labour’s toxic centrists have wealthy backers but there’s little to suggest they can win over MPs or party members in an open fight, writes SOLOMON HUGHES
It is rather strange that Labour continues to give prestigious roles to inappropriate, controversy-mired businessmen who are also major Tory donors. What could Labour possibly be hoping to get out of it, asks SOLOMON HUGHES


