Hugh Reilly: Teacher scrappage scheme a way out on road to retirement

WHEN I turn the ignition key of my 1998 Rover, the blue puffs of smoke billowing from the exhaust pipe and the pounding diesel knock of the engine gives me insight to what it must have been like driving a second-hand Soviet tractor across the nationalised wheat fields of the steppes.

Gordon Brown would like me to scrap my British banger but, frankly, I do not wish to be the proud owner of a brand new, depreciating vehicle.

I do, however, wish to be considered for the teacher scrappage scheme proposed by Tony Finn, the chief e...