The education secretary has accused others of having “sat on their arse” over the RAAC crisis in schools, and expressed frustration at a lack of gratitude that she had been doing a “f***ing good job”. Gillian Keegan was still on microphone when she made the comments shortly after an interview with ITV News, which has The government has come under heavy criticism for its handling of the presence of “crumbly” reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools, a problem it has known about for years. Today saw Keegan give her first interviews since more than 100 schools were ordered last week to close buildings to pupils over safety fears. It has With the cameras still running, Keegan asked her interviewer: 鈥淒oes anyone ever say, you know what, you鈥檝e done a f***ing good job because everyone else has sat on their arse and done nothing? No signs of that? No?鈥 Keegan ‘frustrated’ over questionnaire delays Education secretary Gillian Keegan is recorded on camera saying others 鈥榟ave been sat on their a***s鈥 on schools Raac crisis and shares frustration about not being thanked for doing 鈥榓 f***ing good job鈥 — ITVPolitics (@ITVNewsPolitics) The clip has prompted speculation on social media that she could have been referring to previous ministers, governments, schools or councils. Keegan said she 鈥渨asn鈥檛 really talking about anyone in particular鈥, and apologised for using 鈥渃hoice鈥 language. But she appeared then to blame schools and councils, describing it as 鈥渇rustrating that we鈥檝e still got some questionnaires that are still not there鈥. Government has been asking schools to fill in surveys relating to RAAC. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been chasing and chasing them,” Keegan said. “So we鈥檙e just written again today to say you need to get your questionnaires in by the end of the week.鈥 Pressed on the source of her frustration, she again said it was aimed at 鈥渘o-one in particular鈥, before adding 鈥渨e鈥檝e done a really good job. The department and everybody. We鈥檝e been working really hard on this鈥. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done a really good job at identifying 156 [schools]. But we鈥檝e still got some questionnaires we need to get back. And without that, we really can鈥檛 make the first steps.鈥 Pressed once more, she added: 鈥淎ctually it was the interviewer. Because the interviewer was making out it was all my fault. And that鈥檚 what I was saying, do you ever go into these interviews where anyone says anything but you鈥檝e just done a terrible job.鈥 ‘Staggering arrogance’ Stephen Morgan, the shadow schools minister, said the comments amounted to a 鈥渟taggering admission that Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have done nothing to address a problem that they have known about for years”. 鈥淭he education secretary has displayed staggering arrogance for saying she deserves a pat on the back for the chaos that is gripping our schools on their watch. 鈥淔amilies, school leaders and school staff deserve an immediate apology for these appalling comments.鈥 Lib Dem education spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said Keegan’s comments “add insult to injury for parents who鈥檝e seen their children鈥檚 return to school ruined by this concrete crisis”. 鈥淓xpecting people to thank her when children are being taught in classrooms at risk of collapse shows Keegan must be living on another planet.” It comes after Keegan pledged that the government would refurbish or rebuild schools 鈥渢hat need it鈥. But she revealed 1,500 schools are yet to complete checks to see if they have RAAC. And another 450 schools with suspected RAAC are still waiting for an official assessment from a government engineer.
John Davies 4 September 2023 Keegan has said that the money for replacing RAAC will come from the education budget. Schools will be short of money for essentials but what the hell, kids from privileged backgrounds won’t be affected-Job Done!