The HIP’s idea was a good one as it not only extracted some extra money it also created a few jobs thus massaging the unemployment numbers downwards.
Unfortunately for the HIPmasters people stopped buying and selling houses when the recession started to bite.

Now we have this bonkers idea to vet some 11.3 million people who regularly come into contact with children and vulnerable adults. And that includes people who drive kids to sports events and social clubs. But it also includes all 300,000 school governors, as well as every doctor, nurse, teacher, dentist and prison officer.

At a cost of £64 a throw this is a great wheeze to extract a bit more dosh without sticking up taxes.

Don’t get me wrong, protecting kids and vulnerable adults is no bad thing. But should your local lollipop lady have to pay for the privilege of standing in the middle of the road in all weathers?
You want to be a good citizen and help out with the local junior football team your kids belong to? That’ll be £64 please sir.

This government is barking mad and looking for a fight with various unions. I don’t imagine for one minute that the teachers unions will stand by and not argue for the fee to be either waived or set aside as a tax break.

Opposition parties have naturally attacked the scheme along with various other interested parties and organisations. It’s not hard to visualise a whole raft of otherwise fine upstanding people who do good voluntary work with kids just walking away from it. And who could blame them.

It’s past time to leave. To mis quote the headline, will the last person to leave this god forsaken country please turn out the light.

bbc.co.uk