Northumberland’s Deputy Leader has echoed the remarks of Labour leader Keir Starmer, saying children have been an afterthought throughout the pandemic.

Scott Dickinson said: “Even before the pandemic the gap between privileged children and poorer children was widening. How any government can think it is doing a good job when we know that 3.9 million children in this country are living in poverty, I just don’t know.

“And during the pandemic the government was resisting offering support on things like free school meals over the holidays until Marcus Rashford intervened. What is wrong with people who are blind to the suffering of our younger people and need a sports celebrity to make them come to their senses?

“In educational terms the pandemic has shown that Labour was right when it said broadband and connectivity was an essential in our modern world. Accessibility and ownership of appropriate equipment for home schooling was found to be woefully inadequate.

“Quite frankly the government should be ashamed of itself for the way it handled last year’s exam results and the many last minute announcements it made which made it virtually impossible for schools to respond and plan. In Northumberland our schools did a magnificent job despite, not because of, the government.

“We are determined to ensure that all children have the opportunities they need to flourish and thrive.

“A Labour-led Northumberland will put children front and centre with more funding for youth services and more support for all children, whatever their age.”