This is proof that this election is a clear choice between a Tory Party that would cut education and a Labour Party that would invest in our future – Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner,
Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary,
commenting on the IFS analysis on education spending on
16-18 year-olds in England, said:

“This is proof that this election is a clear choice between a Tory Party that
would cut education and a Labour Party that would invest in our future.

“For all Theresa May’s talk of a bright future, she has turned her back on the
generation who we will rely on to ensure it.  

“Our young people cannot afford another five years of education cuts, leading
to further decline. Only Labour is offering a properly funded education system
fit for the many, not the few.”



Five times Tim Farron showed he was the TV debate winner

In last night’s leaders’ debate, Tim Farron did what he always does: he held the other parties’ feet to the fire.

With style and substance, he called them out on their failures and communicated a positive vision for Britain’s future.

Theresa May, meanwhile, didn’t even show up – demonstrating her complacency and utter disdain for the British people.

Here are five times Tim Farron came out on top:

1.

When he exploded Twitter by asking where Theresa May was: “She might be outside, sizing up your house”.

2.

When he called out Corbyn for supporting Brexit: “If Jeremy cared, he would not have trooped through the lobbies with the Conservatives and UKIP to trigger Article 50.”

3.

When he scolded UKIP and the Tories for their anti-immigration policies: “The Conservative immigration policy is written to appease UKIP.”

4.

When he celebrated European unity and shared values in the face of terrorism: “We must stand together with our neighbours to fight it.”

5.

When he said the British people’s time would be better spent watching Bake Off than listening to Theresa May: “She can’t be bothered, so why should you?”



Press release: Macedonia forms a new government

Following the long-standing political crisis in Macedonia, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has now formed a government.

Minister for Europe, Sir Alan Duncan said:

We congratulate Macedonia on forming a new government. This is an opportunity for the whole country to come together in the interests of all the citizens of Macedonia and the wider region. We are looking forward to working with the new government as it implements important reforms, in particular to strengthen the rule of law and accountability and make progress towards its goal of closer integration with Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Further information



Desperate Sturgeon blames everyone else for her education failings

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1 Jun 2017

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP speaking during First Minister's Questions held in the Scottish parliament, Edinburgh today. 09 June 2016. Pic - Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament

Nicola Sturgeon today refused to take responsibility for Scotland’s falling education standards – 24 hours after her education secretary admitted SNP cuts “probably” went too far.

At First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson highlighted how the SNP’s “boom and bust” approach to teacher training meant schools across the country were struggling to recruit staff.

John Swinney conceded this was the fault of the SNP’s workforce planning, which previously saw too many teachers being trained in relation to demand.

However, the First Minister instead tried to shift the blame to the UK Government, even though education is entirely devolved to Holyrood.

Ms Sturgeon also failed to condemn a series of tweets by SNP MSP John Mason, suggesting Scotland had “moved on” from the need for high standards of literacy and numeracy.

He also claimed surgeons don’t need to spell, IT workers shouldn’t bother with grammar, and that there was too much emphasis on “the academic” in the past.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:

“The education secretary admitted the SNP was to blame for a shortage of teachers – but today Nicola Sturgeon wanted to put that blame on everyone else.

“If the First Minister is serious about sorting out education, she has to address what’s gone wrong on the SNP’s watch.

“Instead, she wants people to forget about a decade of failure, forget about the mess the Scottish Government has made of education, and forget about the children who’ve been failed by the SNP.

“And instead of facing up to the consequences of SNP failings, Nicola Sturgeon wants to lay the blame at everyone else’s door.

“That’s not competent government and, if John Mason’s views on education are anything to go by, it explains exactly why Scottish education under the SNP is in such a mess right now.”

John Swinney admitted yesterday the SNP “probably” went too far in cutting teacher training numbers: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/cutbacks-in-scottish-teacher-training-went-too-far-swinney-admits-sl60sz63m

Student leaders previously called for an end to “boom and bust” training numbers: http://www.scotsman.com/news/education/teacher-training-places-are-cut-by-40-1-789809



SNP manifesto: what it means for families

We have now launched our manifesto for the General Election on 8 June. It sets out how we will ensure that there is strong opposition to a re-elected and increasingly hard line Tory government at Westminster.