Ministers are clearly concerned about school reform row

You could tell from this afternoon’s Education Questions in the Commons that ministers are worried about the row over their school reforms: they’d planted loyal questions from backbenchers to help them fend off criticism. Even before the Conservatives had raised the latest concerns about the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Labour backbencher Luke Akehurst had popped up to ask Bridget Phillipson about child protection. The Education Secretary seized the opportunity to describe the Bill as ‘the single biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation’, adding: ‘That’s why it’s a shame that the Conservative government – the Conservative opposition – have played silly games on this subject.’

Akehurst helped her out a bit more with his supplementary question, saying: ‘Last week, the Leader of the Opposition dismissed safeguarding measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill as a distraction. After the tragic cases of Star Hobson, Arthur Labinjo Hughes and Sara Sharif, can the Secreatry of State remind members opposite why these measures are so vital if we are to protect children?’ As Tory MPs noisily objected to their characterisation, Phillipson insisted ‘that is what the Leader of the Opposition said.