The Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, has come under fire after failing to reply to two letters from the National Education Union, as well as failing to commit to the No Child Left Behind pledge.
Shreeve: If not, why not?
Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, told News OnTheWight,
“Since initially writing for the first time in May of last year, we are and have been constantly concerned over poverty.
“Its impact on creating greater educational disadvantage, particularly during the pandemic, is well documented. We believe, this should also be our elected representative’s stance.
“Hence, we are now writing for a third time – this time as an open letter. The questions are simple: Will our MP add his name to the No Child Left Behind pledge? If not, why not?”
The pledges
The pledge asks for three things. To:
- do everything possible, so that the approximate third of children facing poverty on the Island are not left behind?
- call for the development of a cross-Government strategy to eradicate child poverty?
- vote and speak out in Parliament to try to stop an expected 730,000 more children being plunged into poverty nationally by 2024.
Shreeve: We hope for a positive response
Mr Shreeve finished by saying,
“We expect to receive not only an answer, but we hope for a positive response.
“The pledge is simple. It aims to improve the life chances of all disadvantaged children, particularly the 32 per cent of Island children living in poverty.
“Increasing poverty is creating greater educational disadvantage and the pandemic has not helped.”
The NEU say that 96 MPs have signed up to the pledge so far.
Article edit
1.13pm 14th Jan 2021 – Number of MPs who signed the pledge added
