The NEU kept children and teachers safe during the pandemic, yet we are disgracefully slandered by the politicians who have truly failed our children by not funding a proper education recovery programme — here’s what is needed, explains KEVIN COURTNEY

FROM mid-April onwards the government came under intense pressure to start lifting the lockdown it had imposed on March 23.
A relatively early loosening of restrictions was supported by business groups and their cheerleaders in the right-wing press and the Cabinet (Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Home Secretary Priti Patel and perhaps Michael Gove too).
Pressure was also applied by the leaders of the Labour Party and the Scottish National Party.

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