Policy Announcements, Thursday 17 May

Government  

• Gordon Brown has officially accepted the Labour leadership after it was revealed his only rival did not have enough support from the
  parliamentary party to stand. 
• Ruth Kelly has launched a curriculum promoting citizenship lessons in religious schools as the government steps up its efforts to defeat extremism. The communities secretary unveiled the new citizenship curriculum for madrassas at a Bradford school. She said it was aimed at taking "grassroots action" to isolate, prevent and defeat extremism by encouraging young people to become involved in the community through community work and volunteering. The 30-lesson course will also teach students that Islamic values are based on respect, tolerance and non-violence, and will teach skills - such as debating - aimed at helping reject extremism. 
• A personalised skills assessment is to be made available in prisons and in the community to identify offenders who will benefit from a programme of employment-focused learning and skills training to reduce re-offending. Under a new system - the 'campus' model - selected offenders will receive tailored information, advice and guidance and be offered a range of skills training after completion of their assessment. Training could include literacy, numeracy, language and key skills, employer-led vocational skills, enterprise and self-employment training, work trials, work experience and voluntary work with skills training.