BLOCK HEADS

Concrete bungle Tory demands praise for handling scandal | Sunak was told of school dangers then cut rebuild schemes

- BEN GLAZE, SOPHIE HUSKISSON

AS schools crumble and kids are told to stay away from potentially deadly classrooms, Gillian Keegan yesterday refused to accept any responsibility for the catastrophe.

Instead, the self-pitying Education Secretary tried to shift the blame on others in a foul-mouthed tirade demanding praise for doing a "good job", despite reigning over the chaos.

It came as former civil servant Jonathan Slater claimed Rishi Sunak as Chancellor halved the number of schools in a government rebuilding programme, even after being told of the dangers posed to pupils and staff.

Many children are unable to return to school this week due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in classrooms, sparking fears roofs could collapse.

But after an intervi with ITV yesterday and with the camera still rolling, Ms Keegan said: "Does anyone ever say, you know what, you've done a f*****g good job because everyone else has sat on their a***s and done nothing? No signs of that, no?"