Schools of Hard Knocks

The courts, those enemies of reform and persecutors of the Vicar of Downing Street, Jack Straw and other crusaders, are at it again, it seems. A judge has proclaimed that Michael Gove's attempt to abolish millions of pounds' worth of school building projects with a wave of his insectoid tarsus was an "abuse of power" which had failed to cover itself in even the most perfunctory rationale or consultational figleaf. The Government responded with the sort of demented rhetoric that even the Reverend Blair never quite managed during his first term, let alone his first year: the decisions of Michael Gove are not open to legal challenge or discussions with those they affect, and building and repairing schools is wasteful, bureaucratic and no doubt multicultural as well. The judge in the case redeemed himself by requesting Gove to reconsider his decision "with an open mind", thus furnishing him with a handy clue as to the necessary phraseology when, after a few weeks' pause for the sake of public amnesia, he waves his insectoid tarsus once again.