If schools don’t want £400m... just give it back

Hammond fuels ‘little extras’ row

PHILIP Hammond last night launched an extraordinary attack on teachers over the “little extras” row.

The Chancellor had sparked fury when he handed schools a miserly £400million in last week’s Budget.

He fuelled further anger when he said the tiny sum divided between them could pay for “little extras”.

Teachers, parents, and education experts reacted with disbelief.

But Mr Hammond told MPs he was “surprised” by the backlash.

Speaking to the Treasury Select Committee, he said: “For most secondary schools receiving a cheque for £50,000... will be money worth having. For anybody who feels it’s not worth having, there will be plenty of schools willing to receive the cheque.” He also rejected a claim the Tories were to blame for soaring class sizes, insisting they were “decisions to be made by school leaders”. Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said: “Philip Hammond has completely missed the point. This is yet another insult to teachers struggling in the face of massive cuts.”

Meanwhile, Mr Hammond insisted a delay on a £2 stake limit on fixedodds betting terminals until October 2019 was to ensure an “orderly” process for the gaming industry.

Ex-sports minister Tracey Crouch quit in protest at the six-month hold-up announced in the Budget.

For most secondary schools, £50,000 is worth having CHANCELLOR AT SELECT COMMITTEE YESTERDAY