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General election 2019: Lib Dems promise 20,000 more teachers General election 2019: Lib Dems promise 20,000 more teachers
(about 1 hour later)
The Lib Dems have promised to recruit 20,000 more teachers in England and spend billions more on schools if they are elected to government.The Lib Dems have promised to recruit 20,000 more teachers in England and spend billions more on schools if they are elected to government.
The party, which will launch its manifesto later, says it will reverse school cuts with an "emergency cash injection" of £4.6bn next year.The party, which will launch its manifesto later, says it will reverse school cuts with an "emergency cash injection" of £4.6bn next year.
The extra funding would rise to £10.6bn by 2024/25 compared to 2019/20, under their plan.The extra funding would rise to £10.6bn by 2024/25 compared to 2019/20, under their plan.
The party is also promising to widen access to free school lunches.The party is also promising to widen access to free school lunches.
They plan to spend an extra £1.1bn per year on meals for every primary school child, and secondary school children whose families receive universal credit (UC).They plan to spend an extra £1.1bn per year on meals for every primary school child, and secondary school children whose families receive universal credit (UC).
Since 2018, children in school year three or above from families on UC have only qualified if the family's annual employment income is less than £7,400.Since 2018, children in school year three or above from families on UC have only qualified if the family's annual employment income is less than £7,400.
The anti-Brexit party says £10bn will be taken from what they claim will be a £50bn "Remain bonus" from staying in the EU to increase school funding.The anti-Brexit party says £10bn will be taken from what they claim will be a £50bn "Remain bonus" from staying in the EU to increase school funding.
Leader Jo Swinson also flagged up another likely manifesto policy in an interview with ITV on Tuesday, saying the party had plans for a frequent flyer tax.Leader Jo Swinson also flagged up another likely manifesto policy in an interview with ITV on Tuesday, saying the party had plans for a frequent flyer tax.
"We've got plans for a frequent flyer lever that would certainly be discouraging many flights but would be raising revenue from that, so it wouldn't be an outright ban or limit but would be an effective measure to change behaviour.""We've got plans for a frequent flyer lever that would certainly be discouraging many flights but would be raising revenue from that, so it wouldn't be an outright ban or limit but would be an effective measure to change behaviour."
The Liberal Democrats say their extra spending would boost teacher numbers by 20,000 over five years.The Liberal Democrats say their extra spending would boost teacher numbers by 20,000 over five years.
To attract and retain teachers, the party says it will increase starting salaries to £30,000, and guarantee a pay rise of at least 3% a year over five years.To attract and retain teachers, the party says it will increase starting salaries to £30,000, and guarantee a pay rise of at least 3% a year over five years.
The party would also spend £7bn on improving school buildings over the next five years.The party would also spend £7bn on improving school buildings over the next five years.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said: "This is an investment in our children's future. Our schools should be world class, helping every child make the most of the challenges ahead. Lib Dem education spokeswoman Layla Moran said: "School leaders that I've spoken to would very much welcome this money, and, yes, we do need to keep spending."
"But instead, they are trailing behind. The Conservatives have cut school funding to the bone and children have paid the price, especially those with the most complex needs. She said her party's prediction that staying in the EU would provide an extra £50bn a year for public services was based on "conservative estimates" of better economic growth.
"It is disgraceful that some schools feel they have no choice but to ask parents to chip in for supplies, and are closing early on Friday to balance the books." "By stopping Brexit there will be an uptick to our economy, there is no independent forecast which doesn't suggest that's true," she said.
She said her party will "build a brighter future for every child". Defending her party's plan to replace Ofsted, she said the school watchdog's brand was "broken", and it should be "entirely scrapped and replaced".
The Lib Dems would set up an "independent body" to oversee curriculum changes, she added, which would stop "political interference".
After a decade of tightening budgets, the political parties in England are competing to offer more cash to England's schools. Since 2010, the spending per pupil in England has fallen by 8% in real terms, despite being at its highest ever level in cash terms.After a decade of tightening budgets, the political parties in England are competing to offer more cash to England's schools. Since 2010, the spending per pupil in England has fallen by 8% in real terms, despite being at its highest ever level in cash terms.
That's because of rising costs for schools including teachers' pay, employer pension contributions, national insurance and utility bills.That's because of rising costs for schools including teachers' pay, employer pension contributions, national insurance and utility bills.
These plans by the Lib Dems go further than the commitment already made by the Conservatives.These plans by the Lib Dems go further than the commitment already made by the Conservatives.
They would reverse the spending cuts, and because there is a commitment further into the future, offer schools the prospect of a real terms increase.They would reverse the spending cuts, and because there is a commitment further into the future, offer schools the prospect of a real terms increase.
Recruiting, and just as importantly keeping, teachers is a big challenge in England.Recruiting, and just as importantly keeping, teachers is a big challenge in England.
But pay is not the only issue, with many teachers complaining about workload.But pay is not the only issue, with many teachers complaining about workload.
The Lib Dems, like Labour, say scrapping the end of primary tests and replacing Ofsted would help take the pressure off schools.The Lib Dems, like Labour, say scrapping the end of primary tests and replacing Ofsted would help take the pressure off schools.
What are the other parties promising?What are the other parties promising?
Labour and the Conservatives have yet to publish their election manifestos.Labour and the Conservatives have yet to publish their election manifestos.
But in August, Tory leader Boris Johnson promised an increase in funding for English schools that would amount to £7.1bn more than at present by 2022-23.But in August, Tory leader Boris Johnson promised an increase in funding for English schools that would amount to £7.1bn more than at present by 2022-23.
The independent Institute for Fiscal studies said this would return funding to the levels of 2009.The independent Institute for Fiscal studies said this would return funding to the levels of 2009.
The government also proposed in September to raise starting salaries for teachers to £30,000 by 2022-23.The government also proposed in September to raise starting salaries for teachers to £30,000 by 2022-23.
Labour plans to increase education spending - and its conference voted in September to abolish private schools and redistribute their assets to the state sector, if Labour wins power on 12 December.Labour plans to increase education spending - and its conference voted in September to abolish private schools and redistribute their assets to the state sector, if Labour wins power on 12 December.