Has Mr Fell got it all wrong again? He’s a big dafty isn’t he? Rely on Barrow and Furness Labour to keep you updated with the facts.

Yesterday Boris Johnson announced over £1bn for new school buildings. On the same day following Johnson’s speech, Simon Fell announced ‘Four schools will receive a share of £1.4 billion through the Condition Improvement Fund. Walney School, George Hastwell School, Yarlside Academy and Parkside Academy are all getting better facilities, so that every child gets the education they deserve’.

Boris called and Simon delivered, or so it appears. The Condition Improvement Fund is only available to academies and has nothing to do with the finance that Johnson announced yesterday.

These announcements on the same day have raised questions and concerns across a number of schools in the constituency asking why academies were chosen to receive this funding. In truth they are two separate funds but that was not made clear by Mr Fell. Academies can apply directly to the government for funding and in Barrow they have done so and well done to them. Nice that Mr Fell took some of the credit. Other schools in Barrow cannot apply meaning that not every child will get better facilities and a better education as Mr Fell suggests.

No details have been received as yet on how other schools will be selected for financial support from the £1bn mentioned by Johnson. It is unlikely that all Local Authorities will receive a share as the funding is not likely to build more than 40 or 50 new schools across the country. We will lobby and campaign to get some of that funding in our area for the benefit of schools that need it.