Labour attacks Sir Gavin Williamson over teachers 'insult' in leaked texts

Gavin Williamson's claims teachers were looking for an "excuse" not to enactment during the pandemic are a "kick successful the teeth" for the profession, says Labour.

Leaked WhatsApp messages amusement the past acquisition caput making the comments successful May 2020, arsenic classrooms were due to reopen aft the archetypal question of the Covid-19.

Sir Gavin said his comments "were astir immoderate unions and not teachers".

But Labour said his words "add insult to injury" for teachers.

Bridget Phillipson, Labour's shadiness acquisition secretary, said: "These comments are a footwear successful the teeth for teachers who stretched each sinew for children during the pandemic.

"They adhd insult to wounded astatine a clip erstwhile less radical are joining the profession, and erstwhile teachers are leaving classrooms successful their droves.

"The Conservatives person shown america contiguous precisely however overmuch they worth our teachers."

More than 100,000 messages sent betwixt ministers and officials during the pandemic, person been passed to the Telegraph by writer Isabel Oakeshott.

A vocal professional of lockdowns, Ms Oakeshott obtained them portion helping Mr Hancock, past then erstwhile wellness secretary, constitute his book, Pandemic Diaries.

The writer has said she broke a non-disclosure statement to merchandise the messages due to the fact that they are "in the nationalist interest".

The BBC has not seen oregon independently verified the WhatsApp messages nor the discourse successful which they were sent.

Messages betwixt Mr Hancock and Sir Gavin amusement them discussing a shortage of idiosyncratic protective instrumentality (PPE) for schools.

Sir Gavin said helium wanted to marque definite the PPE was provided truthful that schools "can't usage [the shortfall] arsenic a crushed not to open" and that immoderate would privation to usage it arsenic "an excuse to debar having to teach".

Mr Hancock said it would beryllium "no problem" to supply the PPE "on that basis".

Teachers' unions had claimed the 1 June people for reopening schools successful England was excessively soon to beryllium safe.

England was the archetypal UK federation to reopen schools earlier a 2nd question of Covid infections deed successful September 2020.

A postulation of much than 100,000 messages sent betwixt erstwhile Health Secretary Matt Hancock and different ministers and officials astatine the tallness of the Covid-19 pandemic person been obtained by the Telegraph. Here are our stories connected the leaks:

That October, Sir Gavin announced that A-level exams would beryllium delayed by respective weeks, a shorter play than immoderate teaching unions had called for.

"Cracking announcement today," wrote Mr Hancock to Sir Gavin. "What a clump of implicit arses the teaching unions are."

Sir Gavin replied: "I cognize they truly really bash conscionable hatred work."

General caput of the Association of School and College Leaders union, Geoff Barton, called the comments "contemptible".

Mr Barton told the BBC: "We person to punctual ourselves that this was an property of bonzer anxiety. We hadn't got vaccines.

"And the authorities was starting to look to the teaching assemblage to invited those young radical backmost into school. It was a immense statement going on, precise snarky statement astir whether look coverings should oregon shouldn't beryllium worn.

"The precise radical who past brought those young radical backmost into schoolhouse are being described successful those snide presumption by the erstwhile acquisition secretary.

The "brightest and best" becoming teachers is little apt this greeting due to the fact that of that sneering denigration of the teaching profession," Mr Barton added.

Lib Dem acquisition spokeswoman Munira Wilson said Sir Gavin's comments cement "his spot successful past arsenic 1 of the worst Ministers ever to grace government" and helium should apologise.

Writing connected Twitter pursuing the work of the texts, Sir Gavin said helium wanted to "clarify that these messages were astir immoderate unions and not teachers".

"I person the utmost respect for teachers who enactment tirelessly to enactment students," helium wrote. "During the pandemic, teachers went supra and beyond during precise challenging times."