Keir Starmer faces fresh Labour revolt over special needs support reforms
ENGLAND, JUL 7 – Labour MPs oppose reforms that may reduce legally enforceable support for over 600,000 children with special educational needs, risking a major party rebellion, officials say.
- Keir Starmer is expected to face another rebellion from his backbenchers in 2025 concerning planned changes to support services for children with learning difficulties and disabilities in England.
- The protest emerges amid worries that the proposed changes might limit or eliminate legally enforceable support arrangements currently benefiting over 638,000 children.
- Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and minister Stephen Morgan have declined to guarantee the retention of EHCPs while insisting the reforms aim to strengthen support through more investment in mainstream schools.
- Department for Education data from June 2025 showed EHCP numbers increased by 10.8% from the previous year to 638,745, while campaigners including actor Sally Phillips warned that scrapping EHCPs risks denying vital support.
- The backlash suggests ongoing distrust in government reforms, risking another parliamentary rebellion and deepening debates over how best to support children with special needs.
26 Articles
26 Articles
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