I am delighted to accept the role of Shadow Education Secretary under Keir Starmer. I had a wonderful education at my local state schools — and every child deserves that.

Our children’s futures will be at the very top of my agenda. They need ambition and understanding from this Government, after nearly two years of disruption to their education as a result of the pandemic. But the Conservatives don’t even have a plan to help them catch up from the months of lost school.

I want to pay tribute to Kate Green MP and her team for her fantastic work. Kate showed how ambitious we can be for our children’s future.

The last Labour Government transformed the lives of a generation. I’ll work every day to see that change again.