Daniel Zeichner, MP for Cambridge, has branded the Government’s Budget, announced today by Chancellor Philip Hammond, “patronising, complacent and out of touch”.

The Chancellor announced £400 million to allow schools to “buy the little extras they need”. Daniel Zeichner says “This announcement is not just insufficient, it’s insulting, and patronising. Schools don’t just need more pencils, they need teachers, teaching assistants, and buildings. £10,000 per primary school barely covers half a teaching assistant – let alone tackling increasing class sizes.“

The Chancellor also announced £420 million to tackle potholes. However, Mr Zeichner comments: “The pothole repair bill backlog comes to about £12 billion, so this sum really is just a drop in the ocean. I make it just one in every 30 potholes that the Chancellor plans to repair – not a great ratio“. He also comments “When schools like Hills Road Sixth Form are set to lose nearly a quarter of a million pounds in funding by 2020, it’s disgraceful that the Chancellor is giving them less extra funding than the sticking plaster sum that he’s pasted over a couple of potholes.“

Mr Zeichner will attend the debates on the Budget this week to raise the case for investment in skills and education.