Inside Politics: Pandemic widens educational inequalities and ‘Operation Brock’ to become permanent

Lionel Messi, arguably the best and most naturally gifted footballer ever, is saying adios to Barcelona and bonjour to Paris. The Argentinian superstar has signed a two-year deal with Paris St-Germain, bringing to an end a two decades long love affair with the Catalan giants, whom he joined aged just 13. The six times Ballon d’Or winner wept as he said his final goodbyes. Gavin Williamson might be close to tears this morning amid an ongoing row over A-level results. Elsewhere, David Cameron’s employer reportedly secured a multi-million pound contract after he lobbied Matt Hancock and Operation Brock is to be made permanent.

Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today:

Victoria Prentis, the food minister, highlights a post-Brexit landmark. Gower salt marsh lamb will become the first food to gain protection and recognition under the UK’s geographical indication scheme, which began after the end of the transition period in January. But it’s hardly a real benefit of Brexit; products such as Scotch whisky and Wensleydale cheese were previously protected by the EU’s programme. Elsewhere, Victoria Atkins, the minister for safeguarding, will announce funding for domestic abuse intervention programmes.

Coming up shortly:

-Former Labour foreign secretary David Miliband on BBC Radio 4’s Today at 8.10am

-Shadow education secretary Kate Green on Times Radio Breakfast at 8.35am

MIND THE GAP: A-level grades dominate this morning’s front pages, with a major fall out over private/state school attainment levels. Record numbers of teenagers achieved an A* or A, but Ofqual data shows the increase in A grades is 50 per cent higher in independent schools than in secondary comprehensives. Poorer students at the latter are more likely than ever to miss out on top universities as a result, experts warn. “It is deeply concerning to see widening socioeconomic divides in this year’s A-level results, confirming our worst fears – that the pandemic has exacerbated educational inequalities that were already there,” Dr Elliot Major tells The Independent. The widening gap splashes The Guardian and the Mail, which declares: “Fury over grade gap”.

FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS: Results day opened up a debate about the fairness of this year’s grading system after the cancellation of exams. Labour says the system favoured private school pupils. Kate Green, shadow education secretary, said that students worked incredibly hard and should be proud of their results, although “Conservative chaos has opened the door to unfairness.” Traditional assessments were cancelled and students instead graded by their teachers on a combination of mock tests, coursework and essays, with multiple reports in the run-up to 10 June suggesting middle-class parents piled pressure on educators to give their children top marks. Data shows that the attainment gap also widened for black pupils, those who get free school meals and live in deprived areas. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said the government plans to resume normal exam service next year if the virus is under control.

GRADES OVERHAUL, GAV AT RISK: Fears of A-level grade inflation appear to have borne out, with nearly half of students (44.8 per cent) achieving an A* or A. The Times picks up on comments by MPs and some education experts who say the system is at risk of being undermined and are calling for an overhaul. The paper also claims Williamson is at risk of getting sacked after a series of missteps. Several sources tell the paper Kemi Badenoch is being lined up to replace the South Staffordshire MP. Elsewhere, the Telegraph reports that A-level grades could be scrapped to end “top marks free-for-all”. The paper says the alphabetical A-E grading system could be replaced with a numerical one, similar to that used to award GCSE qualifications. Asked about grade inflation in an interview yesterday, Williamson said “we have been dealing with unprecedented times”. The results mean record numbers of students are taking up places at universities on their first choice courses.

STONEWALLED: The lawyer representing the Duke of York’s accuser has warned against anyone ignoring the US courts as he claimed the royal’s legal team had “stonewalled” appeals for information. Virginia Giuffre is suing the Queen’s son for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager, and has said it was “past the time for him to be held to account”. Reports say the prince is facing a second sexual assault claim by one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims.

CAM SHAME LATEST: Shamed former prime minister David Cameron’s employer secured a £123 million genetic-sequencing contract after he lobbied Matt Hancock to attend a genomics conference, according to the Times. Cameron is a paid adviser to Illumina, a US biotech company that provides gene-sequencing services that can be used to screen DNA for genetic illnesses, the paper says.

NOT PLAIN SAILING: Temporary powers designed to help alleviate congestion caused by post-Brexit lorry tailbacks in Kent – codenamed Operation Brock – are to be made permanent, it has emerged. Under measures designed to ease congestion from traffic heading towards the port of Dover, steel barriers, roadside parking areas and a contraflow system were unveiled in 2019 with the intention of minimising the impact on people travelling within Kent ahead of a threatened no-deal Brexit.

“Gavin Williamson has operated in panic mode throughout this crisis. Universities and students need clarity so all students get the world class experience they deserve.”

Shadow universities minister Matt Western on education secretary’s backtracking.

“A reminder of the inequality in education. 70.1% of students at private schools got A* and A grades. 39% of students at comprehensives got A* and A grades.”

ITV’s UK editor Paul Brand on A-level results.