In a recent government announcement, the ban on “zombie-style knives” was reiterated, sparking a thought-provoking comparison. While zombie knives have already been banned since August 2016, the frequency of announcements related to this ban continues to perplex. It almost seems like these announcements have a life of their own, refusing to die off. It’s almost comical, as in movies, the only way to truly eliminate zombies is by destroying their brains. Perhaps the government should consider banning other problematic issues, like international drug trafficking or murder, to shift public attention.
This distraction could prove beneficial, especially considering the recent last-minute closures of numerous schools, with more closures expected. The lack of clarity regarding which schools are affected only adds to the frustration. It’s curious that the government did not prioritize this issue during the summer, especially when there have been concerns about crumbling concrete in at least 156 schools for years. The government’s apparent lack of urgency is disconcerting, given that they were made aware of the problem back in 2018 after a primary school’s roof collapsed.
It’s ironic that the Conservative party, known for its aversion to infrastructure investment, missed multiple opportunities to address this issue. Despite keeping the construction industry open during the pandemic, schools were closed, which could have provided a suitable window to tackle the concrete problem. However, the Department for Education, led by Gavin Williamson, seemed preoccupied with other matters, such as the exam results crisis during the first and second years of the pandemic.
This pattern of negligence extends beyond schools, as evidenced by the frequent changes in leadership within the Department for Education and Grant Shapps’ multiple ministerial roles. Shockingly, hospitals and courts are also at risk due to crumbling concrete. This poses a significant image problem, highlighting not only the physical collapse of these institutions but also their metaphorical and systemic decline.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no surprise that these civic tragedies have unfolded, particularly in the realm of education. This is evident in the government’s priorities, such as reopening pubs before schools and the U-turns on free school meals due to pressure from a footballer. The appointment of Kevan Collins as the educational recovery tsar appeared promising, but when his recommended funding of £15 billion for pandemic catch-up was met with a mere £1.4 billion from Chancellor Rishi Sunak, it became clear that political courage was lacking.
Even when presented with evidence that the failure to invest in children’s education now would result in higher costs in the future, Sunak remained unwilling to increase funding. This shortsightedness extends to other areas of governance, where decisions are continuously pushed onto future administrations. Unfortunately, this long-term mismanagement has left the country in a dire state, both financially and in terms of overall well-being. The UK is a prime example of the consequences of short-term thinking, suffering from the effects of years of mismanagement.
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