General election: Labour sets out 'radical' plans for free education for adults
The party hopes people will re-enter education at later stages of life if they want to retrain or change career.
Tuesday 12 November 2019 16:09, UK
Labour has set out education plans it says would be the most "radical" their government would put into place, including free adult training for everyone.
The party's shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, drew on her own experience of returning to college in later life to announce Labour's new plan to allow adults to access education for free throughout different periods of their careers.
The party will pledge to leave a legacy of a "National Education Service" which Ms Rayner said would "throw open the door for adults to study, whether they want to change career, are made redundant or didn't get the qualifications they needed when they were younger".
Elsewhere on day seven of the campaign:
- Jeremy Corbyn admitted he is worried after Labour suffered a cyber attack
- Nigel Farage refused to stand down any more candidates - saying Boris Johnson should
- Jo Swinson visited flood-hit Stainforth in South Yorkshire as Lib Dem candidate stood aside after racist tweets emerged
- Labour candidates including John McDonnell joined McDonald's workers on the picket line
Ms Rayner said Labour policy was needed to fill a skills shortage and to retrain people in roles at risk from automation.
She said: "In the years ahead, businesses will need to hire 1.5 million more highly qualified staff. Under the Tories, they won't be able to do so because the very people who could fill those roles are locked out of the opportunities they need. If they want to get the skills that they need, they need to take out a loan to cover their tuition.
"The Tories' decision to impose loans is causing the number of learners to plummet each and every year.
"And if you do return to education as an adult you will often be unable to access any maintenance support, making it even harder for those who would most benefit from a return to education to access it."
Labour's plans will give adults access to six years of credits at Level 4 to 6, and qualifications above A level, up to undergraduate degree.
The party says it will give people power over their own careers and opportunities.
Ms Rayner left school after her GCSEs and had a son when she was 16. She credited Sure Start centres and her college as the reason she could get into work and provide for her son.
But Ms Rayner and Mr Corbyn faced questions over the policy's funding, having said they could pay for the plans with a VAT added to private school fees.
However the party decided at conference to abolish private schools.
Answering questions on the clash, Mr Corbyn told reporter and supporters that the party's manifesto would be finalised at the weekend and policy announced subsequently.
Earlier this week, the Lib Dems announced a skills wallet, which would give adults access to £10,000 at three different ages to access education.
The party faced controversy when Kevin McNamara announced he would stand aside from the campaign in Thurrock, after old tweets with racist remarks resurfaced.
And the party's opponent to Mr Johnson in Uxbridge and South Ruislip withdrew from the campaign because of family health reasons.
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The Lib Dems have had better fortunes in London and Sheffield after two Women's Equality Party candidates agreed not to stand, as the party took on some of the their policies in return.
It means one less opponent against Chuka Umunna in Cities and Westminster, while in Nick Clegg's old seat of Sheffield Hallam, Laura Gordon will try to reclaim the seat from Jarad O'Mara.
Jenn Selby, who had been the WEP PPC for Cities and Westminster, tweeted: "Huge thanks to @ChukaUmunna for his support and understanding, it's been an absolute pleasure and I'm happy to endorse his campaign in Cities of London and Westminster. As well as to stop Brexit, which will disproportionately impact on women."
Chancellor Sajid Javid revisited his old home in Bristol West, while Mr Johnson chaired a Cobra meeting after flooding across Yorkshire.
Mr Javid said his party would not be doing deals with anyone, after Mr Farage said it was the Conservatives who should make the next move and remove candidates from seats they will "never win".
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