Tory Jargon - letter to Oxford Mail

12.00.00am GMT Thu 30th Nov 2006

The Tories on the County Council freely criticise the government for its spin. But their own use of language hardly merits a plain English prize.

For example, the report on the Adult Learning Curriculum for the Cabinet meeting on December 5th is a masterpiece in obscuring the fact that the service is to be drastically cut. Let's translate: a 'reduction of the staffing establishment' (fewer teachers), a 'reduction in the number of sites' (fewer places offering adult education), 'revised arrangements for pricing and charging' (higher charges for courses), the 'deprioritisation of leisure learning or unaccredited personal development courses' (fewer courses, especially those leisure activities that are so valued by so many people), 'a more proactive approach to marketing learning opportunities ensuring full cost recovery' (courses must be fully booked or will not go ahead) and 'a withdrawal of administrative presence' (fewer administrative staff).

The cuts are being made due to a reduction in the grant the County Council receives from the Learning and Skills Council, so the Tories could have been more upfront in admitting them. There was no need for obfuscation to try to avoid blame, but perhaps they are so used by now to trying to cover up their own cuts in services that it has become automatic!

Yours faithfully

Cllr Bill Bradshaw