Balls on campus

Warwick hosted a visit by Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on Monday 20 July.

The University also received his ministerial team whose members include Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, Iain Wright, Under-Secretary for 14-19 Reform and Diana Johnson, Under-Secretary for Schools.

The occasion celebrated the regional launch of a new Labour initiative to help revive the economy. Building Britain’s Future aims to “together build a stronger, fairer and more prosperous country”.

The key priorities of BBF are to clean up politics and reform our democracy, take Britain out of recession into recovery, and reform our public services.

The ministers visited youth and community centres in the area and talked to the locals about community issues.

Following this, Ed Balls and his ministerial team attended the Sydney Stringer School sports day held at Warwick’s Westwood sports fields.

Local government contacts attended a lunch meeting with the minister at the International Digital Laboratory.

Subsequently, the Big Space hosted a “town meeting”, attended by 150 local government officials, school teachers, community leaders, students and regional employers. Warwick staff also attended.

Balls used the opportunity in the Big Space to give a speech talking about the government’s priorities for the future.

Round table discussions were also held which concentrated on fundamental elements of the Building Britain’s Future document after which a question and answer session with the ministers completed the visit.