We see the devastating effect of flood prevention and relief cuts in the north of England and, closer to home, the effect of flooding on the school at Tipton St John yesterday – denied new buildings even though it floods frequently – which Claire Wright illustrates so movingly here:

http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/tipton_st_john_school_floods_yet_again_as_devon_county_council_advises_agai

Yes, we have to live within our means. But which of us lucky home owners has a mortgage – which, given that we pay back around twice the purchase value of our homes over 25 years – could be said to be very much living beyond our means. We buy cars and pay for them (with interest) if we are not rich enough to pay cash. Why? Because we want secure roofs over our heads and many of us (given our poor and worsening public transport links) must have cars to go to jobs to pay for those roofs.

Surely, when it is the education of our children we should similarly expect them to have a decent, secure roof – and floors and walls – as they learn.

Austerity for some but not for others … and our children suffer in so many ways.