“Early years services will be a priority” – Liz Kendall marks out importance of education and party reform

Liz Kendall made a speech in Leicester today (the city where her constituency is), where she laid out what inspired her to enter politics, why she feels early years services are a priority, and how the Labour Party needs to change.

Kendall revealed some of her life story, explaining that she did not have an extraordinary background – and how her background affects the way she sees the barriers faced by children in the UK today. She said:

“Under my leadership, early years will be a top priority, with a clear direction of travel for early years services, but what works best will be determined locally, not from Westminster, because that is where the knowledge and experience lies.

I’ve said that re-establishing our reputation for economic credibility is a fundamental part of Labour being seen as fit to govern our country again. But believe me there is no economic credibility for our country if we don’t skill up our workforce in the 21st century”

The Shadow Social Care minister, who has come under fire for her remarks on free schools last week, attacked Michael Gove for “denigrating” teachers in the search of a “cheap headline”, and said she wanted to make sure opportunities were available to children in deprived areas, and those with special education needs.

“Making sure children from all backgrounds learn about opportunities that are usually available to a few, is an inspiring vision of what our schools can be. That means ensuring there is strong leadership and great teachers, particularly in the most deprived areas.

It means being as demanding about maximising the potential of the A grade student who is taking their exams early, as the child who might just be able to get the grades they need to earn an apprenticeship if they give it their all. It means stretching and supporting children with special educational needs, autism and physical and learning disabilities – and offering fair access to the curriculum to children with dyslexia and children who are excluded who must never be forgotten.

It means asking even more of our teachers, but never forgetting the amazing contribution so many of them make – and never denigrating them for a cheap headline, as David Cameron shamefully allowed Michael Gove to do for four years.”

The Leicester West MP also, briefly, touched upon reform of the Labour Party, and shifting focus from traditional campaigning and organisational techniques onto more community based structure. It is not immediately clear what her ideas are in this regard, but it is expected that she will revisit this area in much greater detail over the course of the election:

“All too often the Labour Party is about delivering leaflets, knocking on doors and attending meetings. But we can be so much more than that. We may not be in power nationally, but we do have the power to show people that our politics can transform their lives. The party I lead will also work to rebuild and renew our communities through the strength of our common endeavour.”