Welcome to our space – open every Wednesday from 10am-2pm – for discussing the day’s top Opinion articles. We’d like to begin today with two quite different articles.
The first is Rafael Behr on Brexit. He asks why, if leaving the European Union means liberation, it feels so dull and joyless. He argues that Brexit is a dismal project without art or poetry, lacking in the cultural depth. He writes:
Brexit is as dull and soulless as the EU institutions it opposes. As a referendum campaign it struck a chord. As a process it is without music or poetry or any of the cultural depth on which nation-building depends. As a vehicle for the assertion of British exceptionalism it is exceptionally joyless: the creation of uncreative politicians who have nothing special to offer but belief in their own specialness. The more their mediocrity is exposed, the harder they will try to bolster their cause with appeals to patriotic duty.
What do you think? Is Brexit exceptionally joyless? Does it have enough to offer? Share your views.
Elsewhere, Britain’s prisons are on the agenda. David Laws, the former Lib Dem schools minister, argues that our jails are at capacity and reoffending rates sky high. But he says there’s hope in the form of a new graduate recruitment scheme – called Unlocked, which he chairs – that puts rehabilitation at its core. He writes:
Unlocked is a two-year graduate scheme that recognises the importance of the prison officer role, and will create a network of leaders to support a rehabilitation agenda. Our participants will have both impressive academic credentials and the personal attributes to be successful, such as interpersonal skills, resilience, and leadership potential. The programme will include initial training, as well as tailored additional on-the-job mentoring by existing prison officers. Throughout the two years, participants will also be studying for a master’s degree.
What do you think? Could this bring much-needed change to our prisons? Or do we need to do a lot more? Share your views.
This page will be updated throughout the morning with new articles for discussion. Get involved below the line now.
