Bombshell revelation on crumbling schools: Sunak must publish evidence and explain to Parliament 

EMBARGO: For Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have demanded that the government immediately publish the evidence from officials in the Department for Education (DfE) ignored by Rishi Sunak in 2021 when he cut funding to fix crumbling schools.

It comes as former DfE permanent secretary Jonathan Slater this morning said officials warned of a "critical risk to life" from crumbling school buildings but their requests for additional funding were ignored. 

The Liberal Democrats also said the Prime Minister must come before Parliament today and explain to the public why he ignored this potential threat to pupils' safety.  

 Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson said:

“This bombshell revelation shows the blame for this concrete crisis lies firmly at Rishi Sunak’s door. He slashed funding to repair crumbling classrooms when officials said it needed to be increased. Now children and parents across the country are paying the price for this disastrously short-sighted decision.

“The government must publish the evidence that was provided by officials at the time, and Rishi Sunak must come before Parliament today and explain why this potential threat to pupil’s safety was ignored. Families seeing their return to school ruined deserve full transparency from the prime minister about his role in this scandal.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Jonathan Slater was interviewed on the Today Programme today, clip available here.