I have a bit of a backlog on news that I wish to write about, though some will probably be kept for a rainy day...but it does mean that there are a few stories here that are small enough to warrant small mention but that I'd like to talk briefly about. The issues are about just who is going to University now and the potential re-emergence of the rich/poor gap in higher education, an update on the idea of ISPs monitoring our internet usage for illegal downloading, and Labour actually making a positive announcement for once. I know, the last bit is actually scarily unreal.

First then let's get this Labour thing out of the way. Gordon Brown has announced that families on benefits could be £2000 better off if they ensure their kids go to school, take up training opportunities or show an active commitment to working. I have to say this news is fantastic, I've slowly slid in to a hatred of the governing party in the last two weeks or so as they've blitzed the news with authoritarian bollocks in the aim of appeasing the Daily Mail masses. Perhaps the lack of face time Cameron is getting along with his own internal dilemmas have meant that Brown now feels more comfortable about talking about schemes one could more readily attribute to a traditional Labour party. I have no hope for this to stick, nor do I kid myself that one announcement can stave off my resentment for the obvious desire for too much power, but it's a start.

We also had an update today about ISPs stating quite clearly that legally they don't feel they can give in to the government's wish that they spy on their customers to enable illegal file sharers to be kicked off of the net. The scheme was of course unworkable and despicable as I've already posted about, it's good to see the ISPs have stuck to their guns on this one as they were really the only body that would truly lose out in the opinions of the public if they were to do what they're being asked. We'll see where this leaves the debate, but I hope it returns it to the private sector where it belongs, out of the hands of government.

Finally we have tuition fees and their effect on who goes to university. While figures are up on those applying to university, there is research that shows that all the government has done with regards to tuition fee structures has not dented the issues the poor have with going to university. The rise of 7% seems to hide the fact of a barely 1% change in the lowest socio-economic demographic taking part. Far be it that the new fee system encouraging more of the poor to attend university, it seems as though it is doing nothing to encourage any more than in the previous debt heavy system.

To me the report Polly Curtis makes interesting reading, with those in lower socio-economic groups seemingly feeling locked to their families for support, and being largely deterred by debt. It is not exactly a ringing endorsement of a system that can cost you £10-20k for the rest of your life.

I will from now on be including links to more of these smaller stories to the end of the Politalks transcripts, posted every Monday.