Mark Francos

Governance and Policy in HE. Exiled Mackem. All Views my Own.

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

This is worth a read and a re-read because unfortunately even if its uncomfortable to read, it's right.

[Sara @SeeRedWoman1]

I've tried to write an explainer for why I think we're seeing rioting on the streets of Belfast.

It's not a defence of what's happening. It's an attempt to understand the conditions that made it possible: unfinished peace, segregation, deprivation, constitutional uncertainty, migration and the communities politicians prefer not to talk about.

Link in the next one

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

Thank you for writing us off...

[Rory McIlroy @McIlroyRory]

As a kid growing up in Northern Ireland, I dreamed of winning all four majors. Being able to bring these trophies home was truly surreal.

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@MatthewTaylorNI @Translink_NI Its so disconnected as well, you can't buy a ticket to my destination so forced to buy an additional single. We want people to use public transport then don't even get the basics right.

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

Dublin Connolly - Portadown - €12.59
Portadown - Lisburn - £8.50

Make it make sense @Translink_NI

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@puresoul0109 @PLinUSA @SunderlandAFC It's the slaying of the Lambton Worm, a local mythical tale. Within Washington a part of Sunderland there is a place called Worm Hill for instance.

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@NoContextBrits Vikings demanding Cheese Savoury Stotties outside of the North East!

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@Anne50558 @piersmorgan @realDonaldTrump No such treaty exists, however there is one that guarantees the territorial integrity of Ukraine and in exchange for the removal of Nuclear weapons. Funnily enough who are the signatories, Russia, UK, USA.

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@V_toriaJohnston @impartialrep That's amazing congratulations!

[Nick Robinson @bbcnickrobinson]

A few thoughts on this Holocaust Memorial Day

My Granny told me that she first realised that something was wrong when someone in her local grocers ordered “A kilo of potatoes, Heil Hitler” and no one laughed. 

My Grandpa - a doctor in Berlin - recalled the letter from a patient who said that he hoped Dr Rosenberg would understand that he could no longer be seen coming through the front door of his surgery but he would now come in through the back where he couldn’t be seen. What he didn’t say - of course he didn’t - was that he was quite prepared to allow a Jew to treat him and potentially keep him alive but he was not prepared to put himself out to protect a Jew. 

The year was 1933.

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@drorfh Straightforwardly in same way I recognise Ireland doesn't, because it is recognition at the highest level within the UK. Is the system perfect, no, but nor is the order within Belgium recognising Leopold II for example. Vast majority of members of both would condone atrocities.

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@chatswithem @Peston I agree wholeheartedly with your bio. What does appeasement on the aggressors terms get you, more of the same and pushes the dangers to us all ever closer. I suggest you look at 1930's history of isolationism. Peace must come but not entirely on Putin's terms. #oftengetitwrong

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@westie1988ie @LiamDMartin1111 @belfastcc 2/2 I'll leave it on this, if most students are thick, why are they earning 3 -5 times you in a few years, as you say use your head, your feet are for dancing. There are many options trying to get people into further and higher education. Give it a go!

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@westie1988ie @LiamDMartin1111 @belfastcc 1/2 They do work PT, significant numbers of hours on top of study, to average 45-50 hour week to still be on breadline.
Generalisations and insulting people don't help matters, facts do, we know most domestic students can't afford the likes of what the post advertises.

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@westie1988ie @LiamDMartin1111 @belfastcc None of these groups have lots of money, it's blindingly obvious, so there is no point targeting students, they are obviously a huge part of our potential higher rate tax payers. Facts indicate students are on breadline alongside UC claimants and minimum wage workers.

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@westie1988ie @LiamDMartin1111 @belfastcc I could go on all day breaking it down but I'll let you do some as I'm sure you are intrigued about the facts. No group here has lots so turn that energy towards where it counts!

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

@westie1988ie @LiamDMartin1111 @belfastcc If you compare when it comes to housing allowance factored in £18,494.12 for UC at max rate outside London. Max Student eligibility is £3,475 on top of £6776 if you are living away from home for a total of £10,251. Luxury indeed as you would agree based on what you said!

[Mark Francos @markfrancos]

I met my partner of nearly 10 years through NCS and it set me on a different life course. There has been no greater programme for social cohesion and is arguably alongside Same Sex Marriage the greatest legacy of the Tories 14 years in power. Shame on Labour for scrapping it!

[David Cameron @David_Cameron]

I am deeply saddened and disappointed that the new Labour Government has decided to close down National Citizen Service, @NCS.

I began pilots for NCS in opposition, to help build bridges across social divides. Young people from different backgrounds, different areas of the country, different ethnicities, faiths and sexualities would mix and work together – sometimes for the first time. In doing so, they were taken outside their normal comfort zones and had to work together, planning and delivering projects for their communities and learning vital practical and life skills along the way.

In government, we set up the full-scale programme, with cross-party support. It was the Big Society in action – a fantastic example of the positive and inspirational role young people can play in our modern, vibrant society. Lifelong friendships were built; resilience and self-confidence were nurtured; volunteering was encouraged; young people gained the creativity and soft skills needed to get on in life – and all could, and did, take part, ensuring that the opportunities offered were not the preserve of a privileged few. It was a programme that did a huge amount for social cohesion. Young people from BME backgrounds were particularly well-represented.

Since then, over one million young people have benefitted from the NCS experience. Indeed, it is a proud achievement and I still regularly get stopped in the street by parents who tell me what a positive difference NCS has made in the lives of their children; or by young people who have enjoyed taking part. The results speak for themselves, with an approval rating of over 90 per cent.

Much like young people, organisations need to grow, evolve and adapt to new challenges and changing times. NCS has constantly adapted to meet the times, not least during the pandemic, which impacted young people in such a devastating way. NCS has never been more vital, empowering our young people to be united in their diversity, with the skills to get on in life and the compassion to support each other.

But rather than be supported to become properly embedded in the fabric of our country and benefit generations to come, Labour are closing NCS for good. It is a deeply backward and regrettable step.