All articles written by Robert Halfon MP on PoliticsHome.com

21 Mar Education

Government's Apprenticeship Plans "Lacking Ambition" Says Industry Body

The British Retail Consortium, which represents major businesses across the UK, has criticised the government's latest plans for apprenticeships, which they say have failed to reform existing schemes in line with industry requests.

17 May 2023 Education

Education Minister Says He Has "Struggled With Maths" Since Childhood

Education minister Robert Halfon has admitted that he has “struggled with maths” since childhood, and is keen to see Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's reforms on numeracy education support students who have faced similar difficulties.

12 Jul 2022 Education

Robert Halfon MP: Throughout our education system, students must be prepared for the world of work

The Education Select Committee, which I chair, has two key motivations underpinning all its work. Firstly, to address social injustice in our education system. The second, to scrutinise the government’s work on skills as it looks to reform schools and post-16 education.

22 Mar 2022 Energy

MP Says It Feels Like "Groundhog Day" Pushing The Government To Act On Fuel Costs

Tory MP Robert Halfon has said he had hoped to “retire” from campaigning on cutting fuel costs but finds himself once again leading calls for the Chancellor to cut fuel duty in the Spring Statement this week.

15 Mar 2022 Education

Government Says It's Up To Universities To Investigate Academics Accused Of Spreading Pro-Putin Propaganda

The Department for Education has said it is up to universities as “independent and autonomous” organisations to “investigate and consider” allegations of academics spreading pro-Putin propaganda on social media.

19 Oct 2021 Obituaries

'He had an incredible sense of humour which never dampened'. Robert Halfon pays tribute to Sir David Amess

Sir David Amess was a remarkable man. Embodying the true values of an Essex man – decency, hard work and a social entrepreneur – he was the original blue-collar Conservative.

01 Mar 2021 Coronavirus

Former Education Minister Says Schools Are In Danger Of “Mask Anarchy” Next Week Because Face Covering Guidance Is Advisory

A former education minister is warning the government is in “danger of creating mask anarchy” in schools because its guidance on face coverings is only advisory.

11 Feb 2021 Coronavirus

Beyond the Covid catch-up for children, our education system needs a long-term plan

As well as the immediate solutions, long term ambitions like boosting family hubs, re-thinking A-levels, and building further education could help our children recover from the challenges of the pandemic

25 Jan 2021 Coronavirus

Wanting Children Back In School Does Not Make You A Lockdown Sceptic, MPs Warn

The push to get children back into the classroom should not be seen as part of ‘anti-lockdown’ scepticism, a senior Tory has warned.

03 Oct 2020 Political parties

Conservatism needs a clear message to reach voters’ hearts and minds

It’s time to work out our modern Conservative values and link them to our policies in a way the public can understand.

29 Aug 2020 Education

Boris Johnson’s reputation is riding on getting schools back next week. So can he do it?

The Government’s entire coronavirus strategy rest on getting schools back open next week after months of remote learning. Eleanor Langford speaks to teachers, their unions and the chair of the Commons Education Committee to find out whether the crucial September 1 push can work.

19 Aug 2020 Coronavirus

Disadvantaged pupils are facing a perfect storm as they await their GCSE results — and it’s about more than coronavirus

Lockdown has only amplified existing inequalities in our education system. We need long-term, targeted solutions to tackle persistent disadvantage.

12 Aug 2020 Education

Hardworking pupils deserve better than this 'computer says no' approach to standardisation

All young people should get the grades they have worked so hard for. But the current system for awarding and moderating results risks discriminating against young people from disadvantaged backgrounds – and could result in a huge social injustice

11 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Keir Starmer says it is ‘ridiculous’ that betting shops can reopen while schools stay shut

Keir Starmer has said it is “ridiculous” that betting shops and theme parks are able to reopen next week while schools in England remain shut.

29 May 2020 Coronavirus

Britain is in a national emergency. So why are ill and disabled MPs being prevented from doing their jobs?

When Parliament returns next week, hundreds of MPs who are self-isolating, shielding or sick will be denied the ability to properly represent their constituents. The government must see sense and reverse this democratically unjust decision

29 May 2020 Coronavirus

EXCL Jacob Rees-Mogg’s ‘incomprehensible’ plans to reopen Commons will turn ill and disabled MPs into ‘eunuchs’, senior Tory warns

The Government’s current plans to bring the House of Commons back from June 2 will turn self-isolating and disabled MPs into “parliamentary eunuchs”, a former minister has warned.

27 May 2020 Coronavirus

Every Conservative MP who has condemned Dominic Cummings as lockdown row escalates

A rolling list of every Conservative MP that has broken party ranks to condemn Dominic Cummings. There are widespread calls for the senior aide’s resignation after it was revealed over the weekend that he had travelled from London to Durham during the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

14 May 2020 Coronavirus

"This is not 'survival of the fittest" – MPs split over ‘premature’ return to Parliament

The leader of the Commons has announced that virtual proceedings will end later this month – much sooner than many MPs expected. For some Members, a return to Westminster is a welcome sign that the country is re-opening. But others say it will be impossible to return safely – and fear the move will leave them, and their constituents, disenfranchised

23 Apr 2020 Coronavirus

Is the 'hybrid' Parliament here to stay?

With the introduction of a semi-virtual Parliament underway, some MPs are calling for the measures to be installed on a permanent basis. Sebastian Whale reports

26 Mar 2020 Coronavirus

This crisis should be the catalyst for a giant leap forward for digital democracy

Many MPs and Peers will not be able to attend their respective chambers - but they should not be prevented from carrying out their duties.

24 Jan 2020 Home affairs

Skills, social justice, standards, and support for the teaching profession will be my priorities

If I’m re-elected as chair I will continue to ensure the Education Committee has a significant role as an influencer of policy, writes Robert Halfon MP

14 Jan 2020 Education

Social justice must be the beating heart of our education policy

By extending the ladder of opportunity to those who currently lack it, and by nurturing our raw talents more generally, we can build the brightest of futures for us all, says Robert Halfon MP.

24 Oct 2019 Education

Children with special educational needs are being let down

Extra funding will fail to make a difference unless ministers correct the flaws in this dysfunctional system, writes Robert Halfon MP

29 Sep 2019 Education

It’s time to get serious on lifelong learning – and ensure everyone has the chance to prosper

Government should commit to a three-part guarantee to boost lifelong learning, writes Robert Halfon MP

15 Jul 2019 Education

The next occupant of 10 Downing Street will need to face up to our country’s skills problem

May Days: Theresa May has shown admirable resolve in her education reforms – but there is still much to do to tackle the burning injustices in our society, writes Robert Halfon

15 May 2019 Home affairs

Only 7.5% of rape charges result in conviction - the statistics around sexual assault and rape are dire and demand urgent Government attention

Is it any wonder that survivors of sexual violence do not report to the police or drop charges along the way, when we look at the process by which these individuals must go through, asks Robert Halfon MP.

02 May 2019 Political parties

For the modern Conservatives, Thatcherism is not enough

The first woman PM will always be a heroine to me, but I’ve come to see that Thatcherism had significant flaws, writes Robert Halfon

30 Apr 2019 Education

We will never combat knife crime unless we address the root causes

A correlation between school exclusions and involvement in knife crime means more must be done to improve early intervention to help pupils maintain their education, says Robert Halfon

08 Feb 2019 Education

Government must move away from wrong-headed policies that increase disadvantage in early years education

Education Select Committee Chair Robert Halfon writes about his Committee’s report ‘Tackling disadvantage in the early years’ which calls for additional support for the most disadvantaged children and to convert good intentions into good outcomes for all children.

25 Jan 2019 Political parties

Anti-Semitism is out in its naked viciousness for everyone to see

Writing for PoliticsHome ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, Robert Halfon MP says the worrying trend by the far Left to "conflate any action of Israel with all actions of all Jews" has had harmful consequences.

03 Oct 2018 Education

The education system should provide a ladder of opportunity for all our children

We need to root out social injustice so that every child can climb the ladder of opportunity, writes Education Select Committee chair Rob Halfon

09 Jul 2018 Education

Rob Halfon: Supporting people’s life chances should be at the very front of all our thinking

From early years through to university, the role of the education system in improving people's lives is at the centre of everything our Committee does, writes Rob Halfon

14 May 2018 Health

We must rocket-boost apprenticeship programmes in the NHS

After raising the issue in the Commons last week, Chair of the Education Select Committee, Robert Halfon MP, writes on the importance of nursing apprenticeships for PoliticsHome.

10 May 2018 Health

‘Failing a generation’ - why the Government’s proposals on children’s mental health lacks ambition

The Green Paper on children’s mental health will leave hundreds of thousands of young people without the help they need, writes Rob Halfon

08 May 2018 Health

Hospital parking fees are a stealth tax on the sick. They must be scrapped

The sick and the vulnerable are disproportionately hit by hospital parking fees. My Bill would bring an end to this clear injustice, writes Robert Halfon

23 Mar 2018 Political parties

To ensure the PM's words have a bite, the Social Mobility Commission must have real teeth

Robert Halfon writes for PoliticsHome following yesterday's publication of the Education Committee report on the Social Mobility Commission.