Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has pushed back against criticism of her joint video with The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins in the DfE building. The first was released yesterday…
In one of the videos released by the government Collins said:
“You better make sure, honeys, that whatever you’re going to be learning, you concentrate because you’re going to be taking it into your future career. And one day, kids, this could be you. I hope this will help people to be ambitious. I didn’t even get a grade in maths because I found it so panicky and so stressful. Part of that was not believing in myself. All that pi in the sky or whatever it is…”
Some people pointed out that Collins may not have been the best choice for advertising the government’s new push on vocational education. The latest announcement on that came overnight: “Regional funding pots announced to train next generation of construction workers “…
Phillipson complained to Radio 5 Live today: “There’s a big dose of snobbery here… You know ‘what does she have to offer?’, ‘what does she have to contribute?’… She can reach some of the audiences we want to reach to make sure they know what the government is trying to do...” Phillipson attacked “killjoys”…
The videos have achieved a massive reach. Guido hears there is a bit of consternation among some in DfE, with Director of Communications Robin Punt, installed this January, said to have made the call to bring in Collins. For no cost – until she is appointed a “tsar” of something…
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”