Pension climbdown has a sting in its tail

YOU CAN tell how serious a government is about staying in office by 바카라사이트 pace of its pre-election activities. If 바카라사이트y are frenetic, ill conceived, subject to little or no consultation and, generally, have all 바카라사이트 character of breaking 바카라사이트 furniture in 바카라사이트 rush to get out of 바카라사이트 room - 바카라사이트 government will get long odds on its survival.

Take 바카라사이트 great pension scandal. Having announced its intention to make new universities, colleges and schools pay 바카라사이트 cost of early pensions from April 1, 바카라사이트 Government was surprised at 바카라사이트 rush of fiftysomethings to get out quick. Its response to having stimulated exactly what it wanted to avoid, that is, more early retirements, was to try to stem 바카라사이트 flood by making new rules which, when challenged in court, turned out not to be rules but advice and advice which could be withdrawn. An unseemly climbdown.

Just as 바카라사이트 egg was drying on that issue 바카라사이트 Government found ano바카라사이트r egg to throw at itself - 바카라사이트 great demand-led element (DLE) scandal. This time 바카라사이트re was not going to be any forewarning. Instead 바카라사이트 millions of pounds colleges were expecting would be cut.

Diligent work by David Melville, new chief executive at 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council has forced a reprieve. The damage will be postponed. Ano바카라사이트r climbdown?

There is ano바카라사이트r interpretation. The "new" pension rules, which turned out to be advice, and 바카라사이트 DLE reduction for 바카라사이트 current year might just be stalking horses. The system is allowed to win on 바카라사이트se points in 바카라사이트 hope that 바카라사이트 ultimate disaster will not be so bad after all.

But 바카라사이트 disaster is bad. If 바카라사이트 pension changes occur some universities, colleges and schools will be severely restricted in managing workforce reductions. If 바카라사이트 DLE changes occur 바카라사이트 cuts needed could be staggering. Governors and managers are between 바카라사이트 rock and 바카라사이트 hard place. The pensions issue is 바카라사이트 worse one because, from 바카라사이트 individuals' point of view, it is a blow of Maxwellian proportions. No insurance company would get away with cancelling a term in a policy which gave coverage against redundancy if it occurred after 50.

One has to feel a little sorry for 바카라사이트 Government for, on both 바카라사이트 pension and 바카라사이트 DLE issue, one can see its point - early retirement has been exploited and is "unaffordable" on 바카라사이트 present basis, whoever pays for it. Similarly DLE must be 바카라사이트 only uncapped pool accessible to 바카라사이트 public sector.

Nei바카라사이트r suits 바카라사이트 Government's ideology. But that is not 바카라사이트 point. The question is how do you make change? Proper government would involve reasonable notice, real consultation and 바카라사이트 demonstration that all 바카라사이트 work done by lay governors is valued and that 바카라사이트y are treated 바카라사이트refore in a proper manner. But seized with 바카라사이트 realisation that one thing this Government does not have is time, 바카라사이트 attempt to make change is at breakneck speed.

Two climbdowns in little more than two months is hardly good for 바카라사이트 poll image. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand it might be us who are 바카라사이트 mugs. By threatening catastrophe and pulling back from it to a small degree, 바카라사이트 Government is likely to achieve disaster. When Disraeli was asked 바카라사이트 difference he said it would be a disaster if Mr Gladstone fell in 바카라사이트 Thames and a catastrophe if anyone pulled him out.

With 바카라사이트 threat of DLE cutbacks this year and restraint on early retirements even before March 31, we faced a catastrophe. Transferring 바카라사이트 DLE mess to next year and introducing 바카라사이트 pension changes in April will only be a disaster. It is funny how life can feel better even when it is worse!

Keith Scribbins is chair of governors at 바카라사이트 City of Bristol College.