Well that's a very interesting post from several perspectives. I'd point out that, if you read my posts in other threads relating to various contexts (please don't torture yourself by looking back...), you'll find that I never, ever defend the New Labour record on anything. New Labour's only achievement was to keep the Tories at bay for thirteen years as far as I'm concerned (discuss...).

Interesting that you were a pupil somewhere in ILEA at precisely the same time as my missus and I were teaching there, 1973 to 1980. Halcyon days by any measure. Teachers left alone to get on with their jobs, free periods to mark and prepare and lunchtimes and breaks free to banter with the other teachers, or just to have a fag and a coffee. The way it should be. We appreciated the space and worked our arses off. What a difference to today.