Resources and Free Schools

The Liberal Democrats are waking up to the damaging effects of Michael Gove's free school policy.  A pity that such concerns did not occur to them before they voted for it.  Then the damage might have been prevented, rather than just resulting in an exchange of childish insults.

Possible misdirection of resources is an obvious possibility in any system which depends on groups of people gathering together and bidding for resources.  That applies to schools and to other areas.  It is a constant complaint among those outside London that well connected lobbyists in the Capital get disproportionate resources.  Within an area, such as a Borough, there is an obvious danger that people who are good at publicity will obtain resources at the expense of those in greater need.

The solution lies partly in having correct procedures for allocating resources, and partly in having decision makers with the guts to stick with them.  Decision makers who cave in to the pressure of (generally) wealthy lobbyists are betraying not just the people who have resources directly withdrawn, but also the public who want their money spent wisely.