Stephen Twigg pitches himself against Gove on cost of living

Like his colleagues in the Labour party, Stephen Twigg used his speech this afternoon to focus on the cost of living. He pledged that Labour would force schools to open earlier and close later to provide ‘wrap-around’ childcare:

‘Spiralling childcare costs are adding huge pressures to family budgets. Last year, nursery costs rose six times faster than wages, making work unaffordable for many parents…that is why I am announcing that the next Labour government will legislate to deliver a Primary Childcare Guarantee. Before and after school childcare for all primary pupils.

‘For parents of primary school children the certainty that they can access childcare from 8am-6pm through their school.’

But focusing on the cost of living wasn’t important enough to stop Twigg from having a pop at his favourite pantomime villain, Michael Gove and his education policy. He said:

‘Michael Gove says let unqualified teachers into our classrooms.