May refuses Bradford MP's demand for £80m schools promise

The Prime Minister declined to give the Northern Powerhouse Schools Strategy her clear backing but promised she would look at it “carefully”.

Then chancellor George Osborne launched the strategy as part of his final budget in March to try and cut the gap in results between schools in the North of England and other parts of the country.

Sir Nick Weller, chief executive of the Bradford-based Dixons Academies Trust, was put in charge of the initiative which was promised £20m a year over the next four years.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Bradford East MP Imran Hussain pressed Mrs May to commit her government to the promises made under predecessor’s administration.

“I have tried unsuccessfully to get assurances on the continuation of the northern schools strategy and the £80 million set aside for it.

“Will she give me that commitment today so that children in Bradford and the north can have the same chances as those in London and the south?” he said.

But Mrs May would only say that new Education Secretary Justine Greening would “look carefully” at recommendations made by Sir Nick on how to improve standards.

The Prime Minister said: “It is important that we ensure that children across the country get the opportunities they deserve, and the quality of education they receive is an important part of that.”