Policies related to schools, universities, and education
Click any topic to see the full cross-party breakdown and recent votes. “Aye” means voted in favour; “No” means voted against.
Recent parliamentary votes on this issue, most recent first.
A Survation poll in Makerfield finds 55% would be less likely to vote for a candidate who has posted offensive material online, with voters also supporting water renationalisation, a wealth tax and caps on political donations ahead of the byelection. The results touch on candidate conduct and policy priorities, including Labour’s position on the Employment Rights Act and related welfare measures.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch attacked the Macpherson-era equality framework, pledging to scrap the Public Sector Equality Duty and to triple stop-and-search, arguing more searches save lives and framing the policy as a response to Reform UK.
Keir Starmer says that much of Tony Blair’s critical essay about the government is wrong, illustrating an ongoing Labour debate over policy direction. The piece also covers Milburn’s youth-benefits review, debates on the minimum wage for young workers, and reactions from Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP, highlighting how Labour and its allies are shaping policy on the economy, welfare, and climate.
Prof Mark R Sanderson argues that the British Council is a strategic asset for UK soft power and should receive stable funding rather than be downsized or sold off, warning that post-Brexit reductions threaten Britain's international cultural footprint. He contends the Council’s role in cultural and educational exchange is vital as Britain redefines its foreign policy.
Nigel Farage and Reform UK campaigners visited a cafe run by Hamlet Wigan CIC in Makerfield unannounced, prompting the cafe’s director to demand an apology for what she called an intimidating visit. The incident, also involving Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Reform MP Lee Anderson, highlights concerns about campaign conduct around community organisations and vulnerable beneficiaries.
