It’s all for one or we may as well give up

It was always clear that Policy & Resources’ triple target of 3% cuts followed by two lots of 5% in subsequent years would be difficult. Coming so soon after the financial transformation programme it was ambitious.

But that does not make it wrong – or impossible.

What will make it impossible is if the States loses its nerve.

As P&R puts it, all committees need to remain resolute in their collective efforts to identify and deliver savings where possible.

There is a sense then that this is an early watershed moment.

If the States as a whole accepts that Education, Sport & Culture is right and the cuts are already damaging their ability to provide a quality service then it will prove impossible to get anywhere near the cutbacks envisioned not just for Education but for all the committees.

Because if Education are let off the hook it will be a sign to Home, Employment, or whoever, that the collective will is not there to force through change.

And when the first 5% kicks in and it really starts to hurt, their committee members will turn to Education as an example.

If they can be let off, why can’t we?

Lesson number one, courtesy of Education, is to promise savings tomorrow, not today. By which time hopefully the improving state of the island’s finances will have kicked in, ending the need for the cuts in the first place.

No one wants to damage how well we teach our children. However, there is a massive disconnect between what Policy & Resources is demanding and what Education seems prepared to offer.

Either the target is wholly unreasonable and P&R should be told to drop it (for all committees, not just one) or the States knuckles down and works to make it a reality.

Losing its nerve at this point and accepting Education’s excuses will ensure that the whole cost-cutting programme is doomed by collective failure of will.