Liberal Democrats will not enter a coalition with any party that does not agree to protect education funding, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has said. By setting education as a red line, any government with the Liberal Democrats must increase spending on nurseries, schools and colleges.
Liberal Democrats say they want to protect per pupil funding from nursery to nineteen, in real terms, by the end of the 2015-2020 parliament. This would amount to £5.2bn more funding than is planned by the Tories and £2.5bn more than Labour have proposed.
Speaking to Channel 4 News Nick Clegg said: "I can confirm a Liberal Democrat red line – a pre-condition for government – is increasing spending on education. The Liberal Democrats will not allow our children and grandchildren to pay the price of this generation’s mistakes."
Mr Clegg added: "We believe above all else in spreading opportunity, in tearing down the barriers that stop people from reaching their potential. Nothing is more crucial to that than education. So the next government must increase spending on nurseries, schools and colleges. That means education spending must rise with both prices and pupil numbers."
"Without investment in education, there can be no deal with the Liberal Democrats." Nick Clegg added.
