Campaigners fighting new school funding plans in South Cheshire have hit out at MP Edward Timpson for failing to attend a public meeting.
The protest against the proposed National Funding Formula, which could leave Crewe and Nantwich schools at the bottom of the UK funding table, is gathering momentum.
Many fear the NFF could result in cuts to teaching staff, subjects being dropped and trips cancelled as schools face a drop in their budgets.
Teaching unions, headteachers, councillors, staff and parents organised a public meeting at Crewe Alex FC to discuss their concerns on Friday (March 17), which Mr Timpson was invited to but did not attend.
Maria Moss, Unison regional organiser for Cheshire East, said: “It was in enough time for him to at least try to make any rearrangements to enable him to be accountable to concerned parents on this matter.
“The same invitation was sent to Angela Raynor, Shadow Education Secretary, who did rearrange a meeting with parents in her constituency to attend this event given its profile and impact in East Cheshire.
“Unison also used a surgery appointment to again urge Mr Timpson to attend, given the serious nature of this matter and its effect on constituents and children of Cheshire East.
“But he could not be persuaded, even though he was given the most up to date evidence on the cuts that will take place should the formula proceed.
“People were greatly disappointed by his absence and some said this will not be forgotten come election time.”
Nantwich mum and former teacher Laura Smith (pictured), who has helped spearhead the public campaign in South Cheshire, added: “All his constituents have ever wanted is him to publicly stand with us on this matter.
“Generic letters aren’t enough.
“Despite organising two rallies totalling more than 2,000 people, collecting 87 pages of letters from his constituents and headteachers, and producing a dossier for him to take to Nick Gibb, plus trying to get to see him at a surgery, he has not engaged with me once on this matter.
“I understand it’s difficult for him to publicly speak out when he is a minister, but it’s not hard for him to listen and show solidarity.
“People are just feeling very disappointed, and many of those are Conservative or floating voters.
“It’s all very well stating repeatedly that you are working tirelessly behind the scenes, I’m sure he probably is.
“But he is spectacularly missing the point and failing to realise the constituents who he represents want more than someone having private meetings in Westminster.
“The fact Cheshire East has been so underfunded for so long begs the question, why haven’t you done anything about this before Mr Timpson?”
But Mr Timpson’s supporters hit back at the criticism.
One political source close to the Children’s Minister said: “Edward knows how to effect change rather better than many of his shrill local critics.
“What changes minds in a consultation like this is steely, quiet, rational argument – not gesture politics from those who shout the loudest.”
An official spokesman for Edward Timpson told Nantwichnews: “Mr Timpson has calmly, strongly and consistently represented constituents’ views on this matter.
“He has met with headteachers, school governors, parents, pupils and trade union representatives to garner those views, and received many written representations, to which he has responded.
“These views have been put firmly by Mr Timpson to both the Minister of State for Schools and the Secretary of State for Education, with the sole aim of ensuring a fair outcome for Cheshire East pupils.
“Today (March 21) Mr Timpson is meeting again with Nick Gibb, the Minister of State for Schools, to reinforce those views as the consultation response period comes to a close.”
The spokesman also dismissed claims that “relevant” questions/comments on Mr Timpson’s Facebook page were being deleted.
“Off-topic and intemperate comments will be removed,” he said. “This page is not intended as an alternative to written correspondence.”
Article originally published by Nantwich News
