John Harris

Increasingly heavy-handed Ofsted inspections offer a window on the government’s anachronistic love affair with centralism
“Truancy crackdown to include children aged four” was the Guardian’s headline, flagging up a story about Michael Gove’s national crusade against truancy and tardiness, and the clunking fist of central diktat. Education may not actually be compulsory until five, but his department is to insist that schools compile attendance figures for reception class – even nurseries, it…

The Tories aren’t in existential crisis, but discontent among voters is focused on the leadership cabal and the issue of class
Cast your eyes over these results, and feel the Tory pain. Harlow, Great Yarmouth, Reading, Plymouth, Thurrock – all southern bywords for the kind of places that decide British elections, and all lost to Labour. Ukip polling an average of 13% wherever it stood. Those half-baked plans for directly elected mayors…

The way credit unions operate goes against the orthodoxies of finance. And that’s exactly what we need
On the high street of the south welsh town of Tonyrefail, there sit two very different examples of financial services. No 3 is a branch of Barclays, whose logo sparks thoughts of shareholder revolt, and a chief executive who last year claimed it was time to increase what City types call its “risk profile”. Next…

John Harris visits south Wales and meets savers and staff at Dragon Savers, one of the credit unions offering an alternative to the big banks, doorstep lenders and online loan companies
John Harris
Laurence Topham
Christian Bennett

John Harris visits south Wales and meets savers and staff at Dragon Savers, an alternative to the big banks, doorstep lenders and online loan companies
John Harris
Laurence Topham
Christian Bennett