Miliband says Labour will not only protect but increase education spending

The early headlines today were for Ed Miliband’s plan to cap school class sizes, but in his speech at Haverstock School (his old school) this lunchtime, Miliband unveiled a bigger plan for education – to not only protect but expand education funding in real terms under a Labour government. That’s all £58 billion of Education funding, including

–          Early years’ education and childcare for 2-4 year olds

–          Schools spending for 5-16 year olds

–          Special education provision

–          The Pupil Premium which provides additional funding for children in deprived areas

–          The Early Intervention Grant which pays for Sure Start centres

–          Spending on further education, sixth forms and apprenticeships for 16-19 year olds

This is in stark comparison with the Tory plan, which involves real terms cuts to the education budget.

Here’s how Miliband announced that in his speech:

“You can’t build a 21st century economy on falling investment in education.

This government used to say it would protect schools.But last week the Prime Minister abandoned that commitment and said he would cut schools spending. Driven by his plan to cut back to public spending as a share of national income to 1930s levels, an era when children left school at 14.

We will take a different path. And we can do it because we have a sensible, balanced approach to deficit reduction. Not a dangerous and extreme one. This government will not achieve its plans on deficit reduction with their plans to cut education spending. Because we can only balance the books by creating the high wage, high skill jobs we need. I can announce that the next Labour government will ensure that spending on our schools rises by as at least as much as inflation.

In other words, it will be protected in real terms.”

 Of course if education spending is protected (as is the NHS) then that will mean sharper cuts in other areas of government spending.