Damien Moore MP for Southport says cuts to school funding “indefensible” and “morally wrong”.

Damien Moore MP says cuts to school funding “indefensible” and “morally wrong”.

Southport MP Damien Moore is one of 28 Conservative MPs who have written to the Chancellor to make clear that “it would be indefensible to cut education funding” in his upcoming budget.

On Thursday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt MP will announce his plans to get the country’s finances back on track, following the aftershocks of the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Government have made clear that tough decision will need to be made.

The group of 28 Conservative MPs wrote to the Chancellor to outline their resolute opposition to any plans which would see the books balanced on the backs of young people in towns like Southport.

They say that “it would not be morally right to cut education at a time when so many children, teachers and staff are still working so hard to rectify the damage caused by Covid 19”. The letter also reiterates the importance of sticking with explicit commitments made by the Government to increase teachers’ starting salaries to £30,000.

Mr. Moore has also today written to the Headteachers of schools across Southport to assure them of his unwavering support for investing in our children’s futures. He has visited a number of schools over recent weeks to learn of the post-pandemic work they have been doing, and to discuss the pressures they are facing.

Mr. Moore has confirmed his view that not only should school funding be protected, but in many areas it should be increased to compensate for increased energy, materials, and staffing costs.

Damien Moore, Member of Parliament for Southport, said: 

“Giving a child the right early years, primary, and secondary education is key to their eventual success in life. Children only get one start in life, and it is imperative that we do all we can to ensure that it is a good one.

“For this reason, I have joined with Conservative colleagues in writing publicly to the Chancellor to set out how crucial protecting education funding is; indeed, I would like to see education budgets actually increased to reflect growing pressures.

“People understand that following the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine costs are rising and difficult decisions must be made on our public finances, but I’ve been very clear with the Chancellor that our public finances cannot be balanced on the backs of our youngest generation.

“I look forward to Thursday’s budget, and trust that decisions will be made to put our economy back on track in a fair and compassionate way.”