Nick Clegg gives keynote speech at Elephant and Castle

In March Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats came to the Salvation Army at the Elephant and Castle to deliver a keynote speech on poverty.

Nick Clegg declared that schools are at the heart of his vision for fairness. He said: “Under our plans smaller classes won’t be a privilege reserved for the rich. Our Pupil Premium raises the funding per pupil for poorer children to the same levels as the money spent per pupil in private schools. Head teachers can use that money to have smaller classes, like in fee paying schools, taking our poorest children a huge leap towards an education they would otherwise never be able to afford.”

He also attacked the Tories for failing to spell out their plans: “The Conservatives have also promised to target funding towards disadvantaged pupils. But they have committed precisely no pounds and no pence.

“It is, in my view, the height of cynicism to pledge a pupil premium – by definition an amount of money per pupil – without attaching a figure to it.”

Photo: Local Lib Dems join party leader, Nick Clegg, after his inaugural social justice lecture to the Salvation Army at their Elephant HQ