PMQs: Prime Minister tinkering on education to save his own skin - says Clegg (Batley and Spen Liberal Democrats)

Batley and Spen Liberal Democrats <kath.pinnock@kirklees.gov.uk>

PMQs: Prime Minister tinkering on education to save his own skin - says Clegg

May 6, 2009 7:03 PM
Originally published by UK Liberal Democrats

Nick Clegg condemns Labour's failed education policy

Two days after the Prime Minister gave a speech on Labour's education policy, Nick Clegg asked him to explain why Labour had failed to provide many young people with even the most basic level of education and care.

He characterised the Prime Minister's new policy as 'a bit of tinkering' and asked how he thought this changes would bring about a genuine solution to the problem.

Nick criticised the Government's failure to respect young people and accused the Prime Minister of vilifying and criminalizing them since coming to power over a decade ago. He argued that announcing a vacuous policy to keep his own party off his back is the wrong way to fix the problems in our education system.

Please see the full exchange below

Nick Clegg: Yesterday, the Prime Minister gave a speech on education and young people. It was his big chance to show that he still has some big ideas for the country: to explain why one in three 11-year-olds still cannot read or write properly; to explain why we have more young people than ever before in prison, in debt or on anti-depressants; and to explain why under his Government we have the unhappiest children in the developed world and a care system in crisis. So, how is a bit of tinkering with the schools complaints procedure going to fix any of that?

The Prime Minister: Let us deal with the right hon. Gentleman's first point, about children and reading. Far more, and a far higher percentage of, children are able to read and write at 11 as a result of the decisions that we have taken as a Government. There are 30,000 children who now get personal tuition to be able to read, and another 30,000 who get personal tuition to be able to write. No Government have invested more in reading, literacy and counting for children, and we have doubled our expenditure on the education of every child over the past 10 years. Of course, there is a great deal more to do and, of course, we are worried about instances of children in care, where there has to be reform. But, we have doubled investment in education over 10 years. It could not have happened under a Liberal or Conservative Government.

Nick Clegg: There comes a point when stubbornness is not leadership; it is stupidity. [ Interruption. ] At least I say it to the Prime Minister's face; Labour Members say it behind his back. For the past 12 years, this Government have vilified and criminalised young people and abandoned a whole generation, and all the Prime Minister can do is spin a vacuous speech to keep his own party off his back. Is it not now obvious that he does not really care about what is right for the country? All he really cares about is saving his own skin.

The Prime Minister: I am sorry that the right hon. Gentleman prepared his answer to the second question before he got the answer from me. The truth is that we are doing more than ever before to help children realise their potential. Sure Start did not exist until there was a Labour Government; nursery education until age three did not exist until there was a Labour Government; and all the programmes that have doubled expenditure and raised standards in primary schools did not exist until there was a Labour Government. Of course, we have more to do, but it would be better if he supported us in doing the right things, rather than attacking us when we are doing the right things.