EDUCATION SECRETARY BRIDGET PHILLIPSON REFUSES TO RULE OUT BUDGET TAX RISES

EDUCATION Secretary Bridget Phillipson has refused to rule out the prospect of new tax rises in the Budget in the autumn.

In a discussion during the Camilla Tominey Show on GB News, she said: “I think we all knew that the public finances were in a tight position. That was what we inherited from the Conservatives but at the spending review, we made different choices about what we were going to invest in.

“That’s why today, I’m able to announce revitalised local family support services with New Best Start Family Hubs that will provide an enormous boost to families,

“Where it comes to future decisions in the Budget, those are matters for the Chancellor. It is important that the numbers add up, that we adhere to our fiscal rules, and we’ve got a clear plan making sure the country continues to see economic growth.”

Asked if she was not ruling out tax rises, she said: “Well, these are not decisions for me as Education Secretary. They’re matters for the Chancellor. This will all be taken together in the Budget.

“But what is critical, and what we’ve always been clear about, is that getting economic growth is absolutely essential, because if we grow our economy, we’re in a much stronger position where it comes to our ability to invest.”

On the government’s plan to recruit 6,500 more teachers, she said: “We are seeing big progress. We’ve got almost 2,300 more teachers in secondary, in FE and in the specialist sector.

“We’re focusing our efforts there, because that’s where we see the biggest growth. When it comes to primary, we know that because of the falling birth rate, we will, sadly, in the years to come, just need fewer primary school teachers.

“That’s the sad reality of where we are at the moment. But we are increasing the number of teachers. We’re also seeing more teachers staying in the profession. So we’re seeing really positive green shoots as we move towards our target of 6,500 teachers.”

Phillipson said, despite the imposition of VAT on fees, the number of private schools has increased: “The number of private schools now is higher than it was last year. We’ve actually got more private schools than last year. That’s the figures that we have.

“Private schools open and close all the time. That’s what’s happened over decades. That’s not a new phenomenon.

“What I’m determined to do is to make sure that we do invest more in state education. Now, I’m always happy to answer any questions that you have on this or any other topic, and I’ll answer them as directly as I can, but I do have to say, we’ve gone around this quite a few times in the past when I’ve been on your show.

“Good to be with you again today. But actually, the vast majority of the people watching this will be sending their kids to state schools. What they want to know is how we’re improving standards in our state schools and delivering more teachers as we are into our state schools.”

Asked about the new political party being set up by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, she said: “They can do as they choose. We’re just focused on actually getting on and making life better for people in this country.

“It’s not got off to the best start so far for them but…they can do as they choose. We’re focused on the future, on delivering for people, working people across our country.”