Farron bids for parliamentary debate on schools funding

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has applied to hold a debate in parliament on schools funding, after the Schools Minister confirmed in a meeting last week that Cumbria's schools were in line for a £23million cut in funding by 2020.

Tim had arranged a meeting last week with the Schools Minister Nick Gibb MP, as well as the other Cumbrian MPs and a representative from the Cumbrian branch of the National Association of Head Teachers. The NAHT estimates that cuts on this scale could mean 625 teachers being cut across Cumbria.

Tim said: "The Schools Minister should be standing up for our schools but instead he simply confirmed that Cumbrian schools are going to face tens of millions of pounds' worth of cuts over the next few years. These cuts will have a massively damaging effect on our children's education as they lead to fewer teachers and larger class sizes.

"I am determined to continue to fight against these cuts. A parliamentary debate will help to shine the spotlight on these damaging plans."