You Cried 'Wolf' Once Too Often...

...and the parents now know there aren't any.

Parents who take their children out of school to go on holiday are damaging their life chances, the shadow education secretary warned yesterday.

Bridget Phillipson urged parents to 'reflect seriously' on the impact of unnecessary absences on their youngsters and the wider school community. In an interview yesterday, she said that while it can be 'tough', it is 'really important that children are in school' as 'every day matters'.

Do you think parents are going to swallow that now? When you did nothing during lockdown but slavisly support the government? 

Ms Phillipson's comments came as a new poll found almost one in three parents believe the coronavirus pandemic has shown it is not essential for children to attend school every day.

One wonders exactly what's wrong with the other two thirds that they don't believe that. 

Another Boris 'Big Idea' Bites The Dust...

Plans for a ban on gay conversion therapy look set to be ditched amid government concerns about the potential unintended consequences.

Boris Johnson pledged to ban the discredited practice during the 2019 election campaign, but the process has been mired in delay.

Gosh, why is yet another Boris promise biting the dust? Well... 

Some ministers are said to be concerned that the ban could have 'unintended consequences' for parents and teachers dealing with trans children. Campaigners have warned that a badly-worded ban could leave teachers open to court action if they tell children not to use opposite-sex toilets or prevent boys competing in girls' sport.

Heh! I do so love unforseen consequences!  

Earlier this week, the Scottish government postponed a ban on conversion therapy amid warnings it could criminalise parents who question their child's wish to change gender.

Holyrood had promised to publish legislation by the end of 2023, but it was dropped from a new programme for government - the Scottish version of the King's Speech.

Listen, if even the bonkers Scottish government is calling a halt, it's time to admit it was never a starter in the first place.  

'There are some longer-term consequences of the lockdown that concerns us...'

Wow, quite something for an MP to admit! Oh, wait, he's the school's minister..?

'... and one is that parents have been slightly more cautious about sending their child into school with a mild cold.'

Gosh! I wonder why? 

It comes as new analysis shows a 'staggering' increase in persistent absence from schools across the country following the pandemic.

Another flock of chickens hoves into view, clucking wildly... 

Professor of Social Mobility at the University of Exeter Elliot Major, who was part of the research team, said the rise in absenteeism has been 'startling'.

He said: 'This data shows the impact of coronavirus is sadly not just a one-off disruption, from which pupils would soon bounce back.

'The rise in absenteeism among pupils has been startling and there has been a staggering increase in persistent absence.

'We now face a national education crisis in the post-pandemic era: a huge slice of the Covid generation have never got back into the habit of regularly attending school.'

More popcorn, anyone? 

Sure You're Worrying About The Right Identity Group, Progressives?

Oh, those awful white right wing Christians, eh?

Oh! Ooops...

Still Think He's Absolutely Not Suffering From Dementia..?

President Biden announced a new crackdown on...

Ooooh, wait, wait!

This should be good! 

...what he describes as 'junk fees' to ease inflation pressures, including surprise legroom charges that he says affect 'low-income folks and people of color' the most.

Wait, what...? 

'Some airlines if you want six more inches between you and the seat in front you pay more money, but you don't know it until you purchase your ticket,' Biden griped in remarks Wednesday. 'Look folks, these are junk fees are unfair and the hidden marginalized Americans the hardest, especially low income folks, and people of color.'

Did he just call all minority people in the US fat..? 

Some scratched their heads at Biden making legroom charges a race issue.

Umm, well, yes!  

Instead of hitting the campaign trail, Biden is pushing out messaging from the White House that those worries are being heard.

Translation: his handlers daren't let him leave the White House. Not to visit any of the 54 states...

Stereotypes Always Have Some Basis In Fact...

Ms Thermidor said soon afterwards that she recorded Betsy Bassis, who was chief executive at the time, having a private conversation with then chairwoman Millie Banerjee, during which the latter seemingly played down the matter.

Ms Banerjee said the situation was ‘high risk’ for NHSBT but that she could not ‘fix the ravages or consequences of 300 years of slavery and 200 years of empire’. She also talked of there being a ‘nasty dichotomy’ between different ethnic groups, with Asians considering themselves ‘well above the blacks’.

Ms Banerjee stepped down in August last year. She denies acting or talking in a racist manner.

Is that not the case, then?  

An external report into grievances raised by Ms Thermidor found she was not treated unfavourably because of her race but that she and others ‘did suffer harassment in NHSBT because of their race’.

Ms Thermidor resigned in February last year. Both Ms Bassis and Ms Banerjee have vowed to contest her claims at the tribunal.