Rishi Sunak was drawn into the centre of the scandal over collapsing schools yesterday, as he was accused of having "huge culpability" for the crisis while the Tories appeared to descend into a "farcical" blame game.
The prime minister was forced to deny claims by a former top civil servant that he had ignored warnings over a "critical risk to life" by cutting school repairs funding when he was still chancellor.
And in an extraordinary outburst which left No 10 reeling, the education secretary Gillian Keegan said others had "sat on their arse" over the crisis and she had done a "fucking good job".
Mr Sunak and Ms Keegan have struggled to answer questions on the full scale of the RAAC problem - but both admitted that hundreds more schools in England could be affected by crumbling concrete than the 104 buildings already forced to close.
It came as:
- Senior Tory MPs told The Independent that Sunak would have to find "new money" for school repairs
- Ms Keegan insisted she was not referring to Tory colleagues when she said others had "sat on their arse"
- Labour began campaigning on social media on Ms Keegan's quote - saying the Tories "want you to thank them" for collapsing schools
- The government refused to say when a full list of affected schools would finally be published
- Ms Keegan revealed that 1,500 schools are yet to respond to a survey on whether they have RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete)
Jonathan Slater, the former top civil servant at the Department for Education (DfE), revealed that officials were aware of the need to rebuild between 300 and 400 schools a year while Mr Sunak was in the Treasury from 2019 to 2022.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 05, 2023 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 05, 2023 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Djokovic the underdog in Wimbledon final rematch
Although it is the rematch he has waited a year for, it was only until a few days ago that Novak Djokovic started to believe he could face Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. When the 37-year-old underwent surgery on a torn medial meniscus in his right knee on 5 June, it was assumed that the seven-time champion would miss the tournament he places above all others.
Krejcikova emulates hero Novotna in three-set thriller
Czech keeps her cool to win Wimbledon after emotional final
Southgate: It's in our hands
Lions' boss said team needs to 'make it happen' against Spain
Labour's story of a crashed economy is straight from the George Osborne playbook
Labour's revenge is sweet, and ice-cold. It is 14 years since George Osborne, the chancellor, persuaded a lot of people that Labour had crashed the economy and that it would take time for the Conservatives to put it right. Now it is Rachel Reeves's turn for Labour.
Pakistan court acquits Khan in unlawful marriage case
Ex-PM and wife were sentenced to seven years in February
Dozens dead as Gaza 'safe zone' is bombed by Israel
Mawasi area targeted as missile 'aimed at Hamas chief'
Clarkson, Hammond and May end 'TV partnership'
Jeremy Clarkson's working relationship with Richard Hammond and James May appears to be officially over.
Princess of Wales to present men's trophy at Wimbledon
Kate Middleton will attend the men's Wimbledon final on Sunday and present the trophy to the winner, Kensington Palace has announced. The Princess of Wales will hand the trophy to either Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz after they go head-tohead at the prestigious finale.
Tributes for Ryanair pilots killed in motorway crash
Two Ryanair pilots have been killed in a motorway crash while on their way to work, police have said. Matt Greenhalgh, 28, and Jamie Fernandes, 24, died after their taxi crashed on the M62 motorway in Cheshire just after 5.30am on Thursday.
Arrest made after human remains found in suitcases
A man has been arrested in Bristol after two suitcases containing human remains were found on Clifton Suspension Bridge.