Backbench BusinessThursday, 2 July 2026

Access to further education

Debate chosen by backbench MPs

A backbench debate on access to further education, sponsored by Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin. The debate will examine barriers to further education entry and progression, likely covering issues such as funding, course availability, support for disadvantaged learners, and alignment between further education provision and labour market needs.

Further education is a critical pathway for skills development and employment, particularly for young people and adults seeking to retrain. This debate matters because access gaps affect social mobility, regional economic capacity, and the UK's ability to fill skills shortages across sectors. Reform UK's focus suggests concern about whether current provision serves working-class communities and smaller towns adequately.

Education Jobs & Employment

MPs most likely to speak

Lucy RigbyLabour Party

Northampton North

Economic Secretary — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Spoken on labour-market, economy-jobs (47 times, 40pts); Known positions: economy-jobs: supportive, economy-jobs: opposed, technology: supportive (30pts)Voting record

Chris BryantLabour Party

Rhondda and Ogmore

Minister of State — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Spoken on education, labour-market, economy-jobs (114 times, 40pts); Known positions: technology: supportive, economy-jobs: supportive, economy-jobs: neutral (30pts)Voting record

Dan TomlinsonLabour Party

Chipping Barnet

Exchequer Secretary — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Spoken on education, labour-market, economy-jobs (70 times, 40pts); Known positions: fiscal-policy: supportive, economy-jobs: supportive, agriculture: supportive (30pts)Voting record

James MurrayLabour and Co-operative Party

Ealing North

Chief Secretary to the Treasury — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Spoken on education, labour-market, economy-jobs (95 times, 40pts); Known positions: fiscal-policy: supportive, economy-jobs: supportive, agriculture: supportive (30pts)Voting record

Pat McFaddenLabour Party

Wolverhampton South East

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Spoken on education, labour-market, economy-jobs (93 times, 40pts); Known positions: economy-jobs: supportive, technology: supportive, labour-market: supportive (30pts)Voting record

Access to further education

MPs most likely to speak

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