Harrow Council called on the Government to pump more resources into education after claims that its policies are harming future generations.

It passed a motion on November 29 noting a decrease in schools’ funding and lent its support to a national campaign against these cuts.

The debate was clearly split along party lines, with Labour councillors criticising the Government’s approach and Conservative councillors defending it.

Cllr Pamela Fitzpatrick, who brought the motion, said British schools are “in dire straits” and urged people to “put aside their differences” on the subject.

She pointed out the widening teacher-pupil ratio, a lack of writing materials and the rising costs of school dinners.

“It is unprecedented – teachers are pleading with the Government for more money, but it falls on deaf ears,” she said.

“What happened to every child matters? Now that Theresa May says austerity is over, I presume it’s going to be spend, spend, spend.”

But Cllr Janet Mote suggested that schools in Harrow were being adequately funded and are set to receive more money this year.

She was supported by Cllr Marilyn Ashton, leader of Harrow Conservatives, who dismissed the idea that teachers and pupils in the borough were being let down.

“Of course, we have to cut our cloth accordingly – and we do so. But there has been an awful lot of investment into our schools,” she said.

Despite these claims from the opposition, all eligible Labour councillors supported the motion and it was passed by a majority of five.