Afternoon summary
Angela Rayner, the deputy PM, says she has discussed enhancing the UK-US special relationship in a call with JD Vance, the US vice president-elect. (See 5.11pm.) Hers is the latest outreach intended to ensure the Labour government can have a good relationship with Donald Trump’s administration.
Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister, has played down concerns that derogatory comments made by David Lammy and other Labour MPs about Donald Trump in the past will harm relations when Trump takes office. (See 10.06am.)
McFadden has rejected suggestions that a Trump presidency will definitely be bad for the UK economy because of his tariff policies, arguing that some of the “fiery things” promised by Trump during the campaign won’t happen. (See 9.29am.)
David Hill, a former director of communications for the Labour party, and for Tony Blair at No 10, has died. (See 4.12pm.)
Updated
Bridget Phillipson says she wants schools to be 'welcoming spaces' to tackle pupil absences
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has said that the epidemic of pupil absences in England’s classrooms can be tackled by making schools “welcoming, engaging and inclusive spaces”.
Speaking to the Confederation of School Trusts annual conference in Birmingham, Phillipson said figures showing one in five pupils in England were persistently absent “should shock us all, a failure of society and state and our children will pay the price in years to come”.
Persistent absence is defined as a pupil missing 10% or more sessions, meaning one or more days every two weeksof school.
Phillipson warned schools against diverting problem pupils, including those with special needs, to other schools nearby.
I know the current system incentivises some to adopt a competitive rather than a collaborative model … the kind that only succeeds by pushing problems on to others. That ends now.
Phillipson said including more children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) in mainstream education was the best way to overcome the crisis in provision. She announced the appointment of Dame Christine Lenehan, director at the Council for Disabled Children, as a special ministerial adviser on Send.
The increasing number of students with special needs was reflected in new figures published by Ofqual, England’s exams regulator, showing increases in the numbers being granted extra time or help sitting GCSEs or A-level exams. Last summer three out of every 10 entrants were given 25% more time to complete their exams, a rise of 52,000 compared with 2023.
