A DISTRICT MP is demanding that more Government funding be ploughed into colleges.

Philip Davies, whose Shipley constituency includes Cullingworth and Denholme, is among 164 cross-party MPs calling for a promise of increased spending in next month’s spring statement.

They have sent a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond.

Mr Davies said further education colleges were the “Cinderella” of education when it came to funding.

He added: “While the incomes of schools and universities have been protected by government, colleges have faced an average 30 per cent reduction in funding at a time of rising costs.

“Given that it is now compulsory for anyone up to 18 to be in education or training, it is vital the money is there.

“FE is the only stage of education to have received a permanent drop in funding per student during the last eight years and now that the country’s finances have improved, it is time that more money was put back into our colleges.”

In the letter, the MPs call for an above-inflation increase in the FE budget and say there would be clear economic benefit from doing so.

“Britain is preparing to leave the European Union and it is vital we have a workforce that can keep pace with technological and demographic changes and have skills that future employers want – and FE colleges have a vital role to play in that,” added Mr Davies.