In my role as branch secretary of the GMB trade union in Wiltshire, I have been involved in several recent meetings discussing redundancies in local schools, due to funding cuts from the Conservative government.

Many local schools are standing on a cliff edge regarding funding, and unless the Government allocates more money, schools will lose £3 billion a year in real terms by 2020.

What do those numbers mean to us locally? The Chippenham parliamentary constituency includes, Corsham, Melksham, Bradford on Avon, and a number of other, smaller towns and villages. In this area, each school will lose £132456 in funding between 2015 and 2020, based on the Conservative government’s own figures.

That means a cut of 141 teachers across the area, meaning on average 4 fewer teachers for each school, as the funding for each pupil is due to be cut by £369. Wiltshire is already in the bottom 60 local authorities in England for pupil funding.

Frankly, the Conservatives are not investing in Education for our children’s’ future nor for the future prosperity of our nation. In addition to the obvious human cost of unfulfilled personal potential, it is a false economy as more educated children get better jobs, pay more taxes and contribute to a brighter future for all of us.

Labour will restore schools’ funding, and ensure that education is given the priority it deserves.

Published and promoted by Steve Abbott of 71 High Street, Corsham, SN13 0HA on behalf of Andy Newman, 5 Elm Hayes, Corsham, SN13 9JW