
Scottish Labour calls on Holyrood to rethink education reforms
However, Holyrood's Education Committee has warned the Bill needs "substantial amendment" to ensure the improvements ministers want to see are brought about.
Labour education spokeswoman Pam Duncan-Glancy has hit out at the legislation, which she says will result in a "superficial rebrand" of the SQA.
She spoke out ahead of MSPs debating hundreds of amendments to the Bill in a sitting that is expected to last until 10pm on Tuesday.
Ms Duncan-Glancy said: "Scottish Labour will not back a Bill that is just tinkering around the edges of a system that is failing pupils, families and teachers."
Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP Labour has brought forward amendments to the legislation seeking to set up a new independent body called Curriculum Scotland.
Labour also wants to give Holyrood the ability to set in statute the minimum frequency at which school inspections should take place.
It also wants to require Qualifications Scotland to engage with trade unions, as well as ensure children and young people are listened to when determining how the new bodies should operate.
Speaking ahead of the amendments being debated, Ms Duncan-Glancy said: "We can see the consequences of SNP incompetence in our once-world-class schools - performance is declining, the attainment gap is growing, and violence is rife.
"The SQA has lost the trust of teachers and the public - it needs to be abolished, but all the SNP has come up with is a superficial rebrand.
"Only Scottish Labour's plans will genuinely scrap the SQA, deliver on the experts' calls to separate powers and create a qualifications body with teachers, children and parents at its heart."
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She added: "Scotland's young people are our country's greatest asset - they need genuine reform and we will not vote for anything that falls short of this.
"It is not too late for the SNP to listen to the experts and overhaul this legislation so it delivers genuine change and rebuilds public trust."
Conservative education spokesperson Miles Briggs also accused SNP ministers of being "in complete denial' about the changes needed to improve Scottish education.
The Tory MSP said: "It is shocking that they are simply planning to rebadge the SQA which is not fit for purpose and needs to be consigned to the history books once and for all."
He added: "I hope the SNP will take this opportunity and support amendments brought forward by both the Scottish Conservatives and others to make this Bill fit for purpose and give Scots the world-class education system they deserve."
The committee's report, published in December, backed the replacement of SQA and the creation of an independent inspectorate.
Their report added that the committee "believes the Bill will require substantial amendment to ensure that the improvements envisaged by the Scottish Government in relation to engagement, governance, organisational culture and accountability become a reality for learners, teachers and staff".
The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
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Wales Online
33 minutes ago
- Wales Online
PIP changes explained with fears it will hugely impact Wales
PIP changes explained with fears it will hugely impact Wales What the PIP changes could mean for benefits claimants in Wales ahead of crunch vote Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall arrives in Downing Street for today's cabinet meeting ahead of the crucial welfare reform vote (Image: PA ) MPs will tonight vote on UK Government plans to reform welfare payments. It comes after a climbdown by the Labour administration after huge public outcry and facing a huge rebellion from its own MPs. At its height more than 100 Labour MPs said they would vote against their own government, but that has reduced to 39 Labour backbenchers since changes were announced. Wales' four Plaid Cymru MPs have also backed the amendment, which will be voted on. The proposals were hugely controversial. While the UK Government say reform is needed, critics said they were being rushed through and had not consulted charities or disabled people who will be impacted. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall told the Commons: "Welfare reform, let's be honest, is never easy, perhaps especially for Labour governments. Our social security system directly touches the lives of millions of people and it is something we all care deeply about. "We have listened to the concerns that have been raised to help us get these changes right. The Bill protects people already claiming PIP, it protects in real terms the incomes of people already receiving the UC (universal credit) health top-up from that benefit and their standard allowance, and it protects those with severe lifelong conditions who will never work, and those near the end of their life as we promised we would." The Welsh Government had criticised the plans, with senior minister Jane Hutt writing to Ms Kendall saying there needed to be a review of the plans. 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Victoria Winckler, director of The Bevan Foundation, said it would "increase social inequality, and exacerbating already entrenched poverty in Wales". Are the changes better news? There are still concerns that the row back is going to create a two-tier system and younger disabled people and those who become disabled in the future will be disadvantaged and denied access to work and education. The concessions by the UK Government have seen a number of the Welsh MPs who had signed an amendment which looked set to sink the government plans has decreased. While Plaid Cymru's four MPs have signed the amendment, only one of the five Labour MPs who had originally put their names to it have kept there, that's Steve Witherden, the MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr. However, a huge number of charity groups say the changes don't go far enough. Since the revisions, groups and charities including Citizens Advice, The Poverty Alliance and The Salvation Army have co-signed a letter saying they want the bill withdrawn. There has not, the groups say, been enough consultation. That was echoed by Luke Young, head of policy at Citizens Advice who asked MPs to vote against the bill. "The UK government's own impact assessment says the cuts will plunge 150,000 people into poverty by the end of this Parliament. Even this is an underestimate of the potential impact. If this Bill is passed, then by 2030 it will have cut PIP for more than 400,000 disabled people and Universal Credit for more than 700,000 people who are disabled or have a long-term health condition. Article continues below "We know Wales will be disproportionately affected, with communities such as Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Neath Port Talbot being hardest hit. It will push more people toward already stretched public services and into to food banks, as they find even less support available under a new three tier system."


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Mirror's Daily Digest - heat health warning to longest ever cold case conviction
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Ryland Headley, 92, to die in jail for 1967 rape and murder of Louisa Dunne, 75 Our News team has been closely following the country's longest ever cold case conviction, in which a 92-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison - with a minimum term of 20 years - for the rape and murder of an elderly widow in 1967. Ryland Headley claimed he was innocent but was caught after his DNA was found back in the 60s and re-tested with modern forensic techniques. He was found guilty after a trial at Bristol Crown Court of killing 75-year-old Louisa Dunne in her own home. The twice-widowed woman was found dead by a neighbour in her home in the Easton area of Bristol on June 28, 1967. She was fully dressed, but had her knickers round her ankles and a nylon type stocking lying across her neck. She had been strangled. DWP chief Liz Kendall beams outside No10 despite brewing welfare rebellion Meanwhile, our Politics team has been working around the clock to provide live updates as Keir Starmer faces rebellion over the controversial welfare cuts. This evening, MPs are due to vote on reforms - first set out in March - with the government bracing for a huge revolt from angry Labour MPs. Ministers hope major concessions will be enough to win over Labour rebels. Welfare chief Liz Kendall was this morning seen smiling as she put on a positive face ahead of this afternoon's debate. She yesterday defended the massive DWP shake-up after a bruising week for the government over controversial disability cuts. While some Labour MPs have said they will back the government after last week's concessions, which will protect current claimants, some 50-60 of them are still said to be considering voting against the government. It would be the biggest revolt of Mr Starmer's premiership so far. 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Three former bosses at Lucy Letby hospital arrested This morning, our News team reported that three ex-members of the senior leadership team at the hospital where Lucy Letby worked have been arrested in connection with alleged manslaughter. The three were in leadership roles at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016, but have not been named. They were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. It comes after Letby, 35, was found guilty of murdering seven children as well as attempting to murder seven more between June 2015 and June 2016. She had been working at the neonatal unit at the hospital at the time. Finally, former Minister of State for Home Affairs Norman Baker has slammed Buckingham Palace 'pretending to be prudent' as 'utter hogwash'. It comes as the Royal Family's accounts for 2024 to 2025 have been revealed, showing the Firm spent a total of £2.7million last year on travel by private jet, helicopters and rail. 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Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
PM braced for revolt over welfare after defending his record of a year in power
Some 39 Labour MPs have indicated they will vote to halt an overhaul of the benefits system on Tuesday evening, though that number is far lower than the 83 needed to overturn the Prime Minister's working majority. However, more are expected to join them in what could be the largest revolt of Sir Keir's time in office. Ahead of the parliamentary showdown, the Prime Minister insisted at a meeting with his senior ministers that the Government could look back with a 'real sense of pride and achievement' as the July 5 anniversary of his first year in office nears. Ministers have given working people a 'chance to thrive, not just survive', Sir Keir also told the Cabinet meeting, according to a No 10 spokesman. Downing Street pointed to trade deals, economic growth, the extra long-term investment in the spending review, and a cut in NHS waiting lists among the Government's achievements one year on. The spokesman added: '(The Prime Minister) said the Government's work is all designed and focused on improving the lives of working people and giving them the chance to thrive, not just survive, and the Government should be proud of those achievements as a team.' Cabinet ministers, and even Sir Keir himself, were said to be involved in efforts to persuade Labour MPs not to join the rebels ahead of the crunch Commons debate. Ministers hope a partial U-turn on the benefit cuts, which will protect existing claimants of personal independence payments (Pip) and the health element of universal credit, will be enough to win over Labour rebels. As the second reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill began in the Commons, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said reforms to the welfare system are needed to ensure its longevity. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall arrives in Downing Street, London, for a Cabinet meeting (Stefan Rousseau/PA) 'I do not believe that this is sustainable if we want a welfare state that protects people who most need our help for generations to come,' the senior minister said. She added: 'There is no responsibility in leaving our system of social security to continue as it is, and risk support for it becoming so frayed that it is no longer there to provide a safety net for those who can never work, and who most need our help and support.' To see off the threat of far greater rebellion by some 126 Labour MPs led by Treasury Committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier, the Government last week softened the impact of its changes to protect some 370,000 existing Pip claimants who had been set to lose out following reassessment. Ministers also committed to a review of the system, involving disabled people and led by disabilities minister Sir Stephen Timms, and unfreezing the higher universal credit rate for those already claiming the health-related element. As a result of the U-turn, the reforms are expected to save less than half the £5 billion the Government had expected from its initial proposals. In the Commons, Ms Kendall faced warnings the Timms review could be published after the reforms themselves are implemented. She insisted any changes to be made following the review will be done so 'as soon as is practically possible via primary or secondary legislation', though Downing Street would earlier not guarantee Sir Stephen's review would be completed by the time reforms are implemented. No 10 was also insistent that Government modelling, which predicts the welfare proposals will push 150,000 more people into poverty by 2030, was 'subject to uncertainty'. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the Government's plans were 'driven not by principle but by panic'. Indicating that the Tories will not support the Government, Mrs Badenoch told the Commons: 'By 2030, on this Government's spending plans, we will hit £100 billion on health and disability benefits alone, that is more than what we spend on defence, and this should make everyone in this House stop and think, because this Bill does nothing to fix that problem, and that is why we cannot support it.' She described the Bill as a 'fudge', adding: 'A fundamental and serious programme to reform our welfare system is required, and this Bill is not it.' Rachael Maskell, the leading force of the rebellion which seeks to halt the Bill in its tracks on Tuesday night, urged MPs to join her in the voting lobbies. Labour MP Rachael Maskell (York Central) is leading the latest rebel amendment.(Richard Townshend/UK Parliament) The York Central MP told the Commons: 'These Dickensian cuts belong to a different era and a different party. 'They are far from what this Labour Party is for, a party to protect the poor, as is my purpose, for I am my brother's keeper.' Ahead of the Commons debate, Ms Maskell indicated she believed 'many more' Labour MPs than the 39 who had signed her 'reasoned amendment' would join her in rebelling. The Liberal Democrats are also expected to back the rebel amendment, the party's work and pensions spokesman Steve Darling told the Commons. Ministers have been coy about whether rebel Labour MPs will face disciplinary action, with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds telling broadcasters he was 'not aware' they would lose the party whip, but said 'those issues are for the chief whip'. Whatever people's views about the concessions, surely everyone can see the process here is ALL wrong? Third Reading in eight days? A timetable like that diminishes the role of MPs in getting this legislation right, shuts out disabled people and puts too many at risk. — Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) July 1, 2025 Elsewhere, critic of the Bill Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, hit out at the parliamentary process it will undergo, claiming it was all wrong. On social media site X, he wrote: 'Third Reading in eight days? A timetable like that diminishes the role of MPs in getting this legislation right, shuts out disabled people and puts too many at risk.'