Keir Starmer faces fresh Labour revolt over special needs support reforms
- Sir Keir Starmer faces a fresh Labour backbench revolt in 2025 over planned reforms to special educational needs support in England.
- The backlash comes after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson declined to confirm that the current legally enforceable special educational needs support arrangements would be maintained.
- Currently, 638,745 EHCPs are in place, a 10.8% increase from last year, while campaigners warn that scrapping them risks denying many children vital support.
- Education Minister Stephen Morgan said reforms aim to strengthen support and urged parents to have “absolutely no fear” about SEND help being scaled back.
- The dispute reveals tensions within Labour and Parliament, with dozens of MPs prepared to rebel amid concerns about trust in ministers amid the SEND overhaul.
21 Articles
21 Articles
SEND: Labour's next backbench battle
Keir Starmer and the Labour government are still smarting from a punishing Commons rebellion over welfare reform. Now, backbenchers are revolting again over Special Educational Needs. Labour are due to release a white paper outlining an overhaul of SEND in October. The government says the provisions need reform – but backbenchers and campaigners are already voicing concern over whether this is a further cost-cutting exercise at the expense of vu…
SEND reform is needed - but No 10 can't afford another party meltdown
Discontent among backbenchers is rising following Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s refusal on Sunday to provide a legal guarantee of special needs support for schoolchildren. At its core is whether backbenchers can trust ministers, a direct fallout from the Government’s U-turns on winter fuel payments and the welfare bill.This autumn, Phillipson will set out the implementation of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms,…
Starmer Faces Another Showdown With His Party Over Special Needs
Keir Starmer is already facing another showdown with his own MPs, only days after last week’s humiliating climbdown on his government’s welfare reforms. This time, it’s on his government’s plans to change the system for special needs support in schools.
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