A new government white paper threatens to remove education permanently from the control of elected local authorities with mass opt-out of schools and a new quango to administer their funds.
Teaching unions have said schools would have to compete for pupils and scarce resources leading to a two-tier system with children in less well off areas being denied full access to the national curriculum.
Even further education is facing the squeeze as itis forced to compete for students and run services with less funding. Rail workers Rail workers are also facing a bleak future unless government plans for pit closures and rail privatisation are reversed. Trainload Coal, virtually the only profitable part of BR's operations is under threat.
Its business depends on the movement of coal from pits to power stations and the pit closure programme threatens the jobs of its 7,000 employees.
Meanwhile rail privatisation is expected to cost up to 40,000 jobs and, according to a government-funded report by accountants Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte, will mean travellers facing fare rises totalling 6% above inflation over the next 14 years.