This afternoon, Anne Main MP met with education secretary Damian Hinds MP and schools minister Nick Gibb MP to once again make the case for increasing school funding in the upcoming spending review. Mrs Main called for the meeting following months of campaigning in support of schools in St Albans and across the country.

There has been much speculation in recent weeks that schools will be a priority when the government allocates its spending priorities as part of the Autumn comprehensive spending review. Throughout the ongoing Conservative Party leadership contest, all the candidates have earmarked schools and education as one of their priorities for future spending.

“I really do think the message is getting across to the Department for Education”, said Mrs Main. “So many MPs from all over the country are making the case to government that we need to do more, and I think its clear that this government, and the next Prime Minister, will do everything possible to increase support for our schools and teachers.”

The St Albans MP has led numerous debates in Parliament about this issue in the last year. She held a debate in the smaller Westminster Hall chamber in October 2018 and has spoken up during other similar debates and departmental question times in Parliament.

Mrs Main was successful in securing a backbench business debate on school funding at the end of April this year. Her debate was held in the House of Commons chamber and saw over 30 MPs make speeches in support of Anne’s motion.

After the meeting, Anne said:

“I was grateful that the Minister and Secretary of State agreed to meet with me today and I do believe they understand the case I, and many others, are making. We all know that money has been tight, but we must prioritise our children’s education and offer proper financial support for hard-working teachers.

“I am confident that the schools’ budget will be prioritised by our next Prime Minister and I am hopeful the wheels are already in motion to increase the schools’ budget in the Autumn spending review.”