If Labour gets into power, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has pledged to build 100,000 more childcare places and 3,000 new nurseries. According to the idea, classrooms that have remained unoccupied due to declining birth rates would be converted and put to use. The funding for these conversions will come from the proceeds of discontinuing tax benefits for private schools.
In terms of Prime Minister Sadiq Khan’s extension of free school meals in London primary schools, Ms Phillipson claims everything that is set out in the manifesto is “fully funded and fully costed”.
In an interview at the Fox Primary School in Holland Park, she said: “I've got to be clear that everything I set out has to be fully funded and fully costed. And I'm not going to make commitments that I can't be confident I'll deliver on.
“That's why, in the months ahead, Kier and I will be setting out further plans around Labour's vision for education because we want to ensure that once more education is front and centre of national life,” she said.
This includes recognising the “major contribution” made by international students to the UK economy.
In an interview with the Standard, she said: “International students make a major contribution to our country in economic terms. Alongside that, the jobs in local communities that are created and the investment that comes - that's felt in every community right across the country that has a university.”
Her remarks followed a study released last week by the Independent Migration Advisory Committee (Mac), which found no proof of widespread misuse of the student visa route - which permits international students to remain in the UK for two or three years following graduation.
But who is Ms Phillipson, what roles has she had in Parliament, any controversies, and what has she said about the general election? Here’s everything you need to know about the previous Labour shadow education secretary.
Who is Bridget Phillipson?
Ms Phillipson has served as the shadow secretary of state for education since 2021. A member of the Labour Party, she was elected as the MP for Houghton and Sunderland South in 2010.
She previously served as shadow chief secretary to the treasury from 2020 to 2021
She was born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in 1983. Her mother, Clare Phillipson, founded Wearside Women in Need, a Sunderland-based non-profit organisation that offers safety to women who have experienced domestic abuse.She was raised in a council home, without upstairs heating in a destitute area of Washington, Tyne and Wear.
The 40-year-old studied contemporary history at Hertford College, University of Oxford, where she received her degree in 2005.
After graduating from university, she moved back to the northeast, where she worked for two years in local government before taking a managerial position at Wearside Women in Need from 2007 to 2010.
In 2009, Ms Phillipson was chosen as the Labour candidate for Houghton and Sunderland South from a shortlist consisting solely of women. Her career in politics followed soon after.
In the general election of 2010, Ms Phillipson secured a majority of 10,990 votes and 50.3 per cent of the vote to win the seat of MP for Houghton and Sunderland South.
She has been reelected as the MP for that area ever since.
What roles has she had in Parliament?
Here’s a timeline of the roles carried out by Ms Phillipson.
2010 - Elected as Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South
2016 - Forced government U-turn as Hetton School in the North East rebuilt
2020 - Promoted to shadow cabinet as shadow chief secretary to the treasury
2021 - Appointed shadow education secretary
What has she said about the general election?
Ms Phillipson has been hard at work since the announcement of a general election was made.
On May 29, she travelled to Hartlepool to address the public on the Labour Party's proposals to enhance the town's educational system.
Labour, according to Ms Phillipson, is dedicated to increasing financing for education, providing free breakfast clubs, free school lunches for all primary school students, and more adult training in a variety of fields.Labour also intends to increase apprenticeship opportunities and add 6,500 additional nurses to the NHS.
Ms Phillipson added: “Since 2010, Hartlepool has seen a drop of a third in apprenticeships. People are being denied the chance to have a brilliant life and career.”
