Five former education secretaries urge Labour MPs to back government’s Send reforms in open letter

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Peter Walker and Kiran StaceyFebruary 20, 2026 at 07:33 PM

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Five former Labour education secretaries, along with a former schools minister, have penned an open letter urging current Labour MPs to support the government's upcoming reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England. The letter, signed by prominent figures who held the education post between 1997 and 2007, describes the reforms as a "once in a generation chance" to fix a failing system. The appeal comes ahead of the publication of the schools white paper, which will outline the proposed changes. While the reforms have been generally well-received, some Labour MPs have reservations, particularly regarding changes to the criteria for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The former ministers argue that the reforms will provide more support for children with SEND and that the plan has been carefully developed through extensive consultation.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Downing Street 40% Jim Knight 50% Keir Starmer 50% Bridget Phillipson 60% Ruth Kelly 60% Alan Johnson 60% David Blunkett 70% Charles Clarke ×270% Labour Party ×380% Estelle Morris ×280%

Keywords

special education 90% send reforms 80% education secretaries 70% labour mps 60% schools white paper 60% ehcp 50% failing system 50% mainstream school 40%

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The Guardian - World News

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