Author Archives: David Laws

David Laws

David Laws MP writes…Have your say – the 2015 manifesto

By David Laws | Sun 27th October 2013 - 11:15 am

As you know, Liberal Democrats are unique in British politics as the only party whose policy is developed democratically through a member elected policy committee, member votes at conference and a member voice that is listened to at every level of the party.

The same will be true of our next Manifesto. At the 2015 General Election we have a huge opportunity to break the outdated two-party mould of British politics for good. But to achieve this, we need to develop strong policies that reinforce our values, appeal to our potential supporters and can be delivered in Government. That’s where you …

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David Laws

David Laws writes… Nick Clegg and I have always been clear that Free Schools must also be fair schools

By David Laws | Tue 22nd October 2013 - 8:51 pm

On Thursday this week, Nick Clegg will set out the Liberal Democrat approach to improving standards in schools.

He will set out what parents and pupils should expect from schools. This is an issue we have worked on together for some time, and which was debated and agreed at our party’s conference this Spring.

The Liberal Democrats are instinctive supporters of freedom, diversity and choice. We believe in giving schools more autonomy and teachers more freedom.

That’s why we have supported extra powers to innovate for free schools and academies and have taken steps in government to extend autonomy for all schools. We …

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David Laws

David Laws writes: Reforming Labour’s league tables will end the race to the middle

By David Laws | Tue 15th October 2013 - 11:37 am

schoolsignThe Conservative Chair of the Education Select Committee today praised an “educational breakthrough”.

At the same time, his Labour predecessor welcomed what he said was the best announcement the coalition has made since coming to power in 2010.

It’s not often our political opponents come together to support a Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment, but that’s exactly what happened in the House of Commons yesterday.  Indeed, people across and outside the political spectrum have welcomed our radical shake up of school league tables, that will finally set teachers free to focus on every child rather than the few in the middle.

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David Laws

David Laws writes… Tackling disadvantage must start before school

By David Laws | Mon 2nd September 2013 - 12:05 pm

When money is tight, where a party chooses to spend says something important about that party’s values.

So today is an important day for Liberal Democrats – as Nick Clegg launches our £760m investment to provide a free early years education for every disadvantaged two year old.

From today, for the first time ever, 130,000 two year olds from the poorest homes become eligible for a free place with a nursery or childminder. And we have announced that, from next year, this same offer will be extended to families earning less than £16,000, adopted children and those with special …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 24 Comments
David Laws

David Laws MP writes…Higher expectations for schools – with more money to meet them

By David Laws | Wed 17th July 2013 - 12:45 pm

All over the country, thousands of 11 year olds are preparing to make the big step up to secondary school.  Some will be excited and raring to go, while others will be anxious about the new challenge that lies ahead.  Every parent knows that this is a crucial time for a child.  To go from the safety of your primary school into a new and unknown world can be daunting for many children.

The experience is even more difficult if you start at an immediate disadvantage.  A child who has failed to grasp the basics of English and Maths in primary …

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David Laws

David Laws MP writes… Ambitious for every child

By David Laws | Thu 7th February 2013 - 5:23 pm

Liberal Democrats are determined to ensure that all our pupils can access qualifications that measure up to the best in the world today.

But existing GCSEs have weakened over time. Colleges and employers tell us they don’t prepare young people properly for work or further education. While GCSE results have increased steadily, England’s results in the internationally recognised PISA tests have remained flat. This cannot be fair for young people who are working hard to achieve their best.

GCSEs need to change: the question is how.

The original plan to bring back the O-Level was unacceptable. A two-tier system that divides pupils into …

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David Laws

Attacking child poverty – David Laws wants your views…

By David Laws | Fri 16th November 2012 - 8:51 am

Child poverty in the UK is way too high. It is at unacceptable levels and has been for too long. The government is united in taking child poverty seriously and we are determined – even in difficult times – to reduce child poverty and increase opportunities.

Traditionally we have defined poverty simply by relative income. We know now that this is not sufficient. A child’s experience of poverty is about more than whether their family income this week is low.

That is why we are consulting on a new measure of poverty. The new measure is not about abandoning the past. Nor is it about massaging

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David Laws

David Laws on faith schools and the Liberal Democrats

By David Laws | Wed 10th March 2010 - 11:45 am

As the issue of faith schools has often been debated on this site, and it’s been back in the news with the question of sex and relationship education, we’ve asked David Laws to explain the party’s approach to these issues:

The recent Government climbdown over sex and relationship education in state funded faith schools has prompted further debate amongst liberals about what role, if any, faith schools should have in English education.

Some liberals argue that in a free society faith groups should be free to deliver a faith education, and that parents should be free to send their children to such …

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Posted in News and Op-eds | Tagged and | 116 Comments
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