Labour leader Keir Starmer faced a barrage of criticism from Conservative MPs during PMQs over his party's proposed changes to academies, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson defending the reforms as essential for safeguarding children and ensuring equal educational opportunities.
Keir Starmer faced intense criticism from the Conservative Party over Labour's proposed changes to academies during a heated Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of betraying a cross-party agreement on education policy established during Tony Blair's premiership. She labeled Labour's plans to restrict the freedoms of academies as the 'worst of Socialism,' arguing that it would ultimately harm disadvantaged children in England.
Badenoch challenged Starmer, questioning who would benefit from the proposed legislation, suggesting it was primarily the trade unions who had long sought these changes. She accused the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, of allowing the unions to dictate education policy, claiming it would result in a decline in educational standards.Starmer, however, defended Labour's proposals, insisting that Badenoch lacked credibility and highlighting the Conservative Party's past votes against legislation that included essential safeguarding measures for children. He emphasized that the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill aimed to ensure all state schools, including academies, adhered to the same pay and conditions framework for teachers. This, he argued, would prevent academies from exceeding national pay scales and potentially attracting teachers away from local authority-run schools. The Bill also seeks to standardize the curriculum across all state schools, requiring all schools to teach the national curriculum. Additionally, it would prevent academies from hiring teachers who lack Qualified Teacher Status and halt the forced academisation of schools identified as needing improvement by Ofsted. While some senior MPs have expressed concerns that these changes could stifle innovation and hinder the progress made in education over the past decade, Starmer maintained that the Bill ultimately benefited children. He pointed to provisions that would support breakfast clubs, assist families struggling to afford uniforms, and protect children at risk of being withdrawn from school by abusers. Starmer urged Badenoch to reconsider her stance and support the Bill, claiming it was crucial for safeguarding children's well-being and ensuring equal educational opportunities for all
KEIR STARMER KEMİ BADENOCH LABOUR PARTY CONSERVATIVE PARTY ACADEMIES EDUCATION CHILDREN's WELLBEING AND SCHOOLS BILL PMQS TRADE UNIONS
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