'If austerity is over, the government should tell our Head Teachers' - Farron

Following the Conservatives' billion-pound deal with the DUP, South Lakeland MP Tim Farron has said that "If austerity is over, the government should tell our Head Teachers." This £1bn bung could have paid for an extra teacher in every secondary school in the UK for the next five years, research by the Lib Dems has revealed.

The Conservatives have agreed to give £1bn in extra funding to Northern Ireland in return for the support of the DUP, to give them a majority in the House of Commons.

Meanwhile, Cumbria's schools are set to face £28million of cuts under Tory plans, which unions suggest could lead to the loss of over 700 teachers. Research by the Liberal Democrats has shown that the government's £1bn bung to the DUP could have paid for an extra teacher in every secondary school across the UK over the next five years.

Tim has joined with other Cumbrian MPs today to sign a letter to the Prime Minister, calling for Cumbria to be treated fairly so that MPs can "reassure our constituents that they have a government which allocates investment in a fair way across the United Kingdom".

Tim said: "If austerity is over, the government should tell our Head Teachers. Here in Cumbria schools face £28million of cuts, meaning our children will be left in overcrowded classes in underfunded schools.

"The £1 billion Theresa May has spent on her deal with the DUP could have been spent employing an extra teacher in every secondary school in the country.

"When it comes to the Tories clinging to power, it seems the magic money tree does exist after all.

"This simply won't wash with parents across the country seeing their schools lay off teachers as a result of crippling cuts.

"The Conservatives must start investing more in our schools and not just on keeping Theresa May in Downing Street."