Lib Dem MP candidate endorses school rescue proposals

John Shaw, who has recently been selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for MP for Basingstoke, has backed Liberal Democrat plans to invest nearly £7 billion more in schools and colleges across the UK over the next Parliament.

This funding would reverse cuts to school and college budgets, protect per-pupil funding in real terms, and ensure that every school gets the support it deserves.

John said: "The message from my conversations with local people is very clear - schools in Basingstoke face significant budgetary pressures and headteachers are going to forced to make some difficult decisions over staffing numbers.

"These concerns are borne out by figures provided by the National Union of Teachers, which show that schools in Basingstoke will lose a total of £6.4 million of funding by 2019 under current government policy - enough money to fund 184 teachers. The analysis suggests that every school in Basingstoke will see budget cuts.

"While funding per pupil is set to see the biggest cuts in a generation, billions are being spent on divisive Conservative plans to expand grammars and free schools. The Lib Dems' extra £7 billion would ensure no school and no child loses out.

"If you want to give our children the best possible start in life, vote Lib Dem on 8 June and help change Britain's future."