The cuts – in Heidi’s words, ‘woefully short-sighted’ – will make accessing English tuition nigh-on impossible for huge numbers of people who vitally need it. Furthermore, they represent a clanging contradiction to David Cameron’s pronouncements on the importance of all British citizens/residents being proficient in English, and his bemoaning of the supposed ‘failure’ of multiculturalism. It is very strange for the government to insist that all citizens must speak a good level of English, and then seek to implement a policy that will make access to English training extremely difficult.
We once again urge the government to abandon this ill-conceived policy, and salute Heidi for raising the debate in Parliament, and making the case so well yesterday. We hope to continue to link with her over this and similar issues.