The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Why Ken's EMA pledge matters

Labour can use London as a base to offer an alternative to austerity.

By George Eaton Published 01 March 2012 12:34

Ken Livingstone's pledge to reinstate the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for London students is an important moment in the Mayoral election. It's a good example of how Labour could use the capital as a base to offer an alternative to austerity. After all, it was the conflict between the Greater London Council's policies and those of the Conservative government that led Margaret Thatcher to abolish devolved government in the city. As Norman Tebbit stated with typical candour, the GLC was abolished because it was "left-wing, high spending and at odds with the government's view of the world". Livingstone has explicitly stated that the election is a chance to vote against "Osbornomics".

The London EMA will pay sixth formers from poorer households (those with a combined income below £31,000) up to £30 a week to stay on at school or college. The challenge for Ken is to convince voters that this pledge is deliverable. At present, for instance, 68 per cent support his "fare deal" campaign but just 44 per cent believe he would keep to his promises in power. Until he narrows this credibility gap, Boris will be able to paint him as fiscally irresponsible.

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Tags: London Mayoral Election

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14 comments

Sun, 2012-04-22 05:00 — mbrecker (not verified)

If Ken was really brave, he should publically admit that the total global debt can never be repaid. Therefore, everyone should work together, write it off and start over. As Mayor, I'll do everything I can to make sure that London continues to be the global economic power that it can be.

He's smart enough to know that neoclassical trickle down feel good economics hasn't and will never work. He's brave enough to stand up to the BNP. Now, can he do this as well?

Thu, 2012-03-01 19:49 — Mr Danger

Yay free money! I always vote for whoever promises to hand out money.

Hooray for Ken. Why have austerity when we can have stuff for free?

Thu, 2012-03-01 21:05 — Freeman2

That's what the banks say Mr Danger when they hear there's another bout of quantitative easing. No austerity for us when we can have stuff for free.

Thu, 2012-03-01 21:06 — Anton Jury (not verified)

If this present serving Government can afford to raise how much it gives away in overseas aid by a few billion pounds im sure that a few million pounds would be well spent helping to keep the young in education trying to better themselves in order to give back something to society at a later date.

Money well spent.

Thu, 2012-03-01 13:18 — Alex Baldwin (not verified)

"The London EMA would be based mainly on redirecting existing funds in colleges and the capital's universities. This includes the bursary fund the government introduced to replace the EMA and money spent on outreach activities by London universities."

The money has to come from somewhere.

Fri, 2012-03-02 22:49 — Eddy S (not verified)

Ken is corrupt and hypocritical the sooner we wash our hands of him the better. I dont want to see him, jasper and his corrupt cronies, we now know he was avoiding tax also. We need someone with better principles rather than pulling the wool over our eyes.

Fri, 2012-03-02 23:00 — Eddy S (not verified)

Chuka for mayor, come on mate you would win easily.

Thu, 2012-03-01 15:02 — BigC (not verified)

More drivel and undeliverable promises from Ken I see...typical Labour, say ANYTHING to get in power.

And where's the money coming from??? Probably the same place the £1.1 Billion his TFL Fares cut promise will come from...cloud cookoo land. Don't believe the bursary fund and outreach budgets mentioned in the post above will come to anywhere near enough

Fri, 2012-03-02 08:40 — Fergus Pickering (not verified)

Children still do the paper round up here. Who else would do it? Young barmaids still pull pints and young waitresses still wait.

Thu, 2012-03-01 15:41 — Anton Jury (not verified)

What ever the case, it is about time someone is indicating that they may help the children/youth that are doing the right thing !

The young have really been targeted by this Nasty Government.

Fri, 2012-03-02 08:50 — Kosimba (not verified)

Test you fool there aren't any jobs that is the bloody point. You want teenagers to take up non-existant paper rounds or what? If there is one thing I despise it is older people who had the advantage of growing up in easier times beating up on the young.
Youth unemployment AROUND THE WORLD is at record levels. The differenc is between those who offer empty moralising and those who promise to do something positive to help the young.

Thu, 2012-03-01 17:28 — test (not verified)

God help us. Some of us are fed up with the perpetual whining of youth. When I were a lad we got these things called Saturday jobs to pay for records and so forth, not expecting Ken Livingstone to dole out his largesse because we were too good for Saturday jobs.

Fri, 2012-03-02 12:53 — Mr Danger

"That's what the banks say Mr Danger when they hear there's another bout of quantitative easing. No austerity for us when we can have stuff for free."

That would explain why the RBS share price is down 95% from 2007. They've never had it so good! Oh wait, that doesn't make sense does it?

Thu, 2012-03-01 18:43 — Anton Jury (not verified)

Test, are you going back to the 70's & 80's when one could walk out of one job and into another. In those days most young people could also just walk into a Saturday job or simply do a paper round. By the way, those Saturday jobs were mostly for under sixteens. Times have changed me old fruit.

Saturday jobs for the very young are now a rarity.