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| Coronavirus UK live: Tory MPs accuse teaching unions of obstructing school reopening | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Government to write to 2.2m people shielding in England ‘very shortly’ after charities call on Johnson for clarity amid confusion over end to measure | Government to write to 2.2m people shielding in England ‘very shortly’ after charities call on Johnson for clarity amid confusion over end to measure |
| At the education committee Robert Halfon, the chair, asked Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, if the NEU supported the reopening of schools in Wales from 29 June. | |
| Bousted said the NEU were still in negotiation about this. But she stressed that the union had been consulted as the decision was being taken. | |
| Anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 through the national testing programme will be asked to join a blood plasma trial, PA Media reports. A major trial is ongoing to assess whether convalescent plasma donations can be transfused into patients who are struggling to develop their own immune response. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), which is collecting the plasma for the trial, said people confirmed with the virus through the “Pillar 2” national testing programme will receive a text message 21 days after their result to see whether they are willing to donate plasma. The text messaging service started this week and saw more than 10,000 people enrol in the trial. | |
| Here are some more lines from the Commons education committee hearing. | |
| At the Commons education committee Tom Hunt, another Conservative MP, also strongly accused the teaching unions of resisting school reopening. He said people felt the teaching unions “had actively obstructed the reopening of schools”. And he said you could not blame people for thinking that. As an example, he cited what Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said in early May that suggested that schools should not open until September. Roach said: | At the Commons education committee Tom Hunt, another Conservative MP, also strongly accused the teaching unions of resisting school reopening. He said people felt the teaching unions “had actively obstructed the reopening of schools”. And he said you could not blame people for thinking that. As an example, he cited what Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said in early May that suggested that schools should not open until September. Roach said: |
| And yet this morning the teaching unions were presenting themselves as constructive, he said. | And yet this morning the teaching unions were presenting themselves as constructive, he said. |
| Roach said he stood by the quote cited by Hunt. He said he wanted the government at that point to end speculation. The speculation was damaging, he said. He said he was not opposing reopening in principle. | Roach said he stood by the quote cited by Hunt. He said he wanted the government at that point to end speculation. The speculation was damaging, he said. He said he was not opposing reopening in principle. |
| Hunt said, in the light of the Roach quote, the claim that his union wanted schools to go back was “difficult to swallow” for people. | Hunt said, in the light of the Roach quote, the claim that his union wanted schools to go back was “difficult to swallow” for people. |
| Dominic Hook, Unite national officer, said: “The question that must be asked today is ‘Why now HSBC?’ | Dominic Hook, Unite national officer, said: “The question that must be asked today is ‘Why now HSBC?’ |
| It comes as the banking giant said it will resume plans to cut around 35,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years. | It comes as the banking giant said it will resume plans to cut around 35,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years. |
| “At present, vast numbers of HSBC staff are making massive sacrifices working from home or taking risks travelling into offices and bank branches to help customers,” Hook said. He added: “Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis colleagues across HSBC have worked tirelessly as key workers to ensure that consumers continue to access financial services to meet their banking needs. “Now is the time for HSBC to stand by its workforce and recognise these mighty efforts, and see that the bank’s strength lies within its workforce.” | “At present, vast numbers of HSBC staff are making massive sacrifices working from home or taking risks travelling into offices and bank branches to help customers,” Hook said. He added: “Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis colleagues across HSBC have worked tirelessly as key workers to ensure that consumers continue to access financial services to meet their banking needs. “Now is the time for HSBC to stand by its workforce and recognise these mighty efforts, and see that the bank’s strength lies within its workforce.” |
| At the Commons education Jonathan Gullis, a Conservative MP and former teacher, is asking the questions now and he starts with a fierce attack on the teaching unions. He says he used to respect Patrick Roach from the NASUWT. But he says the union’s five conditions for opening schools sound like five tests. And he accuses the NEU of campaigning to keep schools closed. That was “utterly disgraceful”, he says. | At the Commons education Jonathan Gullis, a Conservative MP and former teacher, is asking the questions now and he starts with a fierce attack on the teaching unions. He says he used to respect Patrick Roach from the NASUWT. But he says the union’s five conditions for opening schools sound like five tests. And he accuses the NEU of campaigning to keep schools closed. That was “utterly disgraceful”, he says. |
| He quotes from an email sent by the NEU to members saying they should not engage with headteachers on the wider opening of schools. He goes on: | He quotes from an email sent by the NEU to members saying they should not engage with headteachers on the wider opening of schools. He goes on: |
| Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, says his union has not been campaign to keep schools closed. | Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, says his union has not been campaign to keep schools closed. |
| Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, says the ASCL did not campaign against schools opening. | Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, says the ASCL did not campaign against schools opening. |
| Gullis says there may not have a formal campaign. But this was the impact of the stance its members were taking, he claims. | Gullis says there may not have a formal campaign. But this was the impact of the stance its members were taking, he claims. |
| Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, confirms that at one stage her members were told not to engage with headteachers on school re-opening. But at that point there was no government guidance. When that guidance was produced, the NEU did tell members to engage, she says. | Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, confirms that at one stage her members were told not to engage with headteachers on school re-opening. But at that point there was no government guidance. When that guidance was produced, the NEU did tell members to engage, she says. |
| At the Commons education committee Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, said it is “close to a national scandal” how little access some pupils have to online learning. | At the Commons education committee Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, said it is “close to a national scandal” how little access some pupils have to online learning. |
| She accepts that the government has set up a scheme to provide laptops to some disadvantaged year 10 pupils. But she says this is only helping a “tiny” proportion of those pupils who need help with this. | She accepts that the government has set up a scheme to provide laptops to some disadvantaged year 10 pupils. But she says this is only helping a “tiny” proportion of those pupils who need help with this. |
| At the Commons education committee Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, says the vast majority of her members have been setting online learning for their pupils. | At the Commons education committee Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, says the vast majority of her members have been setting online learning for their pupils. |
| But she says some pupils do not have access to the internet. Sometimes the technology does not work, she says. And she says it is hard for teachers to know if the work has actually been done. | But she says some pupils do not have access to the internet. Sometimes the technology does not work, she says. And she says it is hard for teachers to know if the work has actually been done. |
| She says schools need a better offer from the government on digital learning. And she says more pupils need to be provided with laptops. | She says schools need a better offer from the government on digital learning. And she says more pupils need to be provided with laptops. |
| Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said that he is taking a 10% pay cut as a contribution to addressing the funding crisis facing City Hall. But he said London needed more help from central government. He said: | Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said that he is taking a 10% pay cut as a contribution to addressing the funding crisis facing City Hall. But he said London needed more help from central government. He said: |
| Khan is paid £152,734, and he will lose almost £15,300. He has also frozen pay for senior figures at City Hall. Our colleague Rajeev Syal has more details here. | Khan is paid £152,734, and he will lose almost £15,300. He has also frozen pay for senior figures at City Hall. Our colleague Rajeev Syal has more details here. |
| In the education committee Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, says her union wants schools to go back as soon as possible. But she says there is a need for a recovery plan. | In the education committee Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, says her union wants schools to go back as soon as possible. But she says there is a need for a recovery plan. |
| One problem is that England has very high pupil/teacher ratios, she says. | One problem is that England has very high pupil/teacher ratios, she says. |
| She suggests that other public buildings could be used. And she says the government should explore plans for blended learning, she says. | She suggests that other public buildings could be used. And she says the government should explore plans for blended learning, she says. |
| If the government retains its social distancing rules, schools will not be able to open as normal in September, she says. | If the government retains its social distancing rules, schools will not be able to open as normal in September, she says. |