"Ministers have ignored the concrete time bomb - their arrogance is breathtaking"

Every aspect of this outrageous situation in our schools is a reflection of the government's poor governance - instead of investing in schools, it chose the austerity

Registered section of a school (

Image: PA)

The emergency evacuation of hundreds of schools embodies the dire state of the country after 13 years of poor conservative governance.

Every aspect of this scandalous situation is a reflection of the poor governance of their country. Instead of investing in schools, they chose austerity. When alarms sounded indicating buildings were unsafe, they ignored them. And when the crisis hit, they took no responsibility.

Ministers were first made aware in 2018 of the serious risk posed by lightweight concrete. Councils, leaders and unions pleaded with the Ministry of Education to provide funds to secure the buildings. It didn't help. As recently as June, the National Audit Office sounded the alarm over the critical risks posed by crumbling school buildings.

Ministers ignored this time bomb until a few seconds remained on the clock. Then, as if to underscore their incompetence, they failed to confirm how many schools are affected and do not appear to have a plan to support students whose education has been disrupted. The incompetence and arrogance are breathtaking. A government that cannot perform even its most basic functions should not be in power.

Disaster diets

This week, we shed light on diets dominated by ultra-processed foods. These highly manufactured products, responsible for around 60% of our average energy intake, pose a major risk to life. As we report today, the NHS is facing a tsunami of obesity that threatens to overwhelm it.

In 10 years, we will be spending more money on treating type 2 diabetes, a disease caused by poor diet, than on treating cancer. Taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for an epidemic caused by profit-hungry multinational food giants.

Durable material

Madonna is in rehearsal and ready for her new tour just months after being rushed to intensive care. The 65-year-old Material Girl is clearly made of tough stuff.