'Why every child deserves a school library - and what I'm doing about it' - Chancellor and MP Rachel Reeves
Today the Chancellor and Leeds MP Rachel Reeves pledges every school in the country should have a library - as she backs YEP campaign
Chancellor and Leeds West and Pudsey MP Rachel Reeves has pledged that every single primary school should have a library in it by the end of this Parliament.
Writing exclusively for the Yorkshire Evening Post she reaffirms her £10m commitment to ensure every child has the opportunity to discover the joy of reading.
She said: “We know that access to reading is vital for young people’s education, it boosts confidence, opportunities and opens up the world beyond the phone screen. “
She also revealed that every secondary school in England will receive £1,400 towards new library books to reignite the passion for reading for pleasure.
Ms Reeves has thrown her support behind our Leeds Reads campaign which aims to shine a spotlight on the power of a good book during the National Year of Reading.
.jpeg?trim=4,0,236,0&crop=&width=640&quality=65){kind=logo}
Rachel Reeves: ‘Why every child deserves a library - and what I’m doing about it’
“Today, in England, one in seven primary schools do not have a school library, that rises to one in four for disadvantaged areas, and almost half of schools in England without a library are located in the North.
“That’s not right. And I will not let it stand.
“As Chancellor, I have committed over £10 million in funding to guarantee a library in all primary schools by the end of this Parliament.
“With 12 per cent of primary schools in Yorkshire and the Humber not having access to a library space, I am determined to make sure every child in every classroom has the opportunity to discover the joy of reading.
“In my budget in the Autumn, I extended this pledge to cover secondary schools where the rise of social media and phone use is causing growing concerns for schools and families.
“Every secondary school in England will receive £1,400 towards new library books to tackle the rapid decline in reading for pleasure.
“I remember when my school library was turned into a classroom because there were more students than space.
“Think about the message that that sends about a government’s priorities.
“How little value is placed on opportunities for kids to learn and to grow.
“To explore their interests independently. Or to find a quiet space to study that isn’t always on offer at home.
“Too many young people in Leeds and across the country have similar experiences today but this Government is committed to tackling this problem.
“We know that access to reading is vital for young people’s education, it boosts confidence, opportunities and opens up the world beyond the phone screen.
“One in eight school-age children do not have a single book of their own and the number of 11 to 16-year-olds who say they enjoy reading in their spare time has fallen by 40 per cent since 2019, according to the National Literacy Trust.
“That’s why this Government has named 2026 the National Year of Reading and why I fully support Yorkshire Evening Post’s Leeds Reads campaign, which is promoting the joy of reading, and giving every young person the chance to discover the power of a good book — just as I did growing up.”