Lib Dems launch manifesto with promise of school cash

NICK Clegg will claim the Liberal Democrats offer voters “opportunity” today as he launches the party’s election manifesto with a promise to increase education spending.
Nick Clegg will launch the Lib Dems' election manifesto todayNick Clegg will launch the Lib Dems' election manifesto today
Nick Clegg will launch the Lib Dems' election manifesto today

The Liberal Democrat leader will pledge spending in schools and colleges will keep pace with rising pupil numbers and inflation at a cost of £2.5 billion a year by 2020.

The party’s manifesto will also include commitments to putting qualified teachers in every classroom and help for schools to offer more one-to-one and small group tuition.

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Mr Clegg, who is defending his Sheffield Hallam seat at the election, said: “This manifesto is a blueprint for a stronger economy and a fairer society. At its heart is one word that is absolutely central to what Liberal Democrats believe: opportunity.

“We want to ensure that every child, no matter where they are born, the colour of their skin, or how rich their parents are, has the same opportunity to reach their potential is.

“That’s why the Liberal Democrats are the party of education.

“At the last election, protecting schools spending and investing huge amounts of extra money towards the poorest pupils was one of our top priorities.

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“I am immensely proud that we did just that in Government. But we won’t rest there. We are determined to make sure that every child in Britain has a world class education.”

The Lib Dem promise confirms that all three main parties will continue to offer education spending protection from Governement cuts.

Labour has promised education funding will rise with inflation but has not made a commitment on increases to cope with rising pupil numbers.

The Conservatives have promised to maintain “per pupil” funding but have not linked it to inflation.

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The number of children attending school is expected to increase by 460,000 over the course of the next five years. The Liberal Democrats said the promise of an extra £2.5bn a year was the equivalent of 70,000 teachers and 10,000 learning assistants.

David Laws, who chairs the party’s manifesto group, described it as “a serious document from a party prepared to govern” which “sets out a credible and deliverable liberal vision for Government.”