News from Sheffield Labour

MP’s shock at Tory threat to North Sheffield’s school rebuilds

Local MP says she will fight any proposals to axe school rebuilds planned in her constituency.

Angela Smith was shocked to hear that the Tories are threatening to cancel some of the school rebuilds in the north of Sheffield if they win the next general election.

Conservative spokesperson Nick Gibbs has admitted that Bradfield School, which admits children from all over north Sheffield, may not be rebuilt if they win the coming election. When asked about the matter, Mr Gibb is quoting has said only schools which have reached ‘financial close’ with their developers would see their upgrades completed. This could mean that Bradfield would not be rebuilt.

Commenting on the news, local MP and a former Local Cabinet Member for Education, Angela Smith said: “I find it astonishing that the Tories are talking about cancelling the rebuild of Bradfield School. Not only is it desperately needed but local taxpayers money has already been spent working up the proposals and this would have to be written off.

“As a former local cabinet member for education I know how important the rebuilding of this school is for pupils in north Sheffield, what the Tories are proposing is just sheer dogmatic madness.

“As the area’s local MP I will fight any proposals which stop children in north Sheffield getting the facilities they deserve. It is important this school is rebuilt, not to do so in my mind would be criminal and do a complete disservice to future generations of kids. This threat to axe the rebuilding of Bradfield is yet more evidence that we have the same old Tories and that they haven’t changed at all. They cannot not trusted.”

Other news from Sheffield Labour

• Station Bridge roundtable with Transport Ministers announced - 8 February 2012
• Paul Blomfield MP slams Tory "ambush" of Government Fair Access Director - 8 February 2012
• Angela Smith MP highlights economic problems faced by Barnsley - 7 February 2012