{"id":5245,"date":"2025-03-28T07:48:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T07:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewitnessexeter.co.uk\/?p=5245"},"modified":"2025-03-28T07:48:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T07:48:53","slug":"this-week-in-pmqs-education-and-u-s-intelligence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewitnessexeter.co.uk\/?p=5245","title":{"rendered":"This Week In PMQs: Education and U.S. Intelligence"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 46 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n

Just before the Spring Statement, the government addressed questions on whether mobile phones should be banned schools.\u00a0The House of Commons also debated intelligence with the United States\u00a0following a security breach involving a leaked group chat from the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer took questions from Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch regarding a potential ban on mobile phones in schools. Badenoch asked<\/a> \u201cWhy did Labour MPs vote against banning phones in schools last week?\u201d The PM dismissed<\/a> the proposal as \u201ccompletely unnecessary\u201d and argued<\/a>,  \u201cthe battle is not with schools already banning phones; the battle\u2014an important, emerging battle\u2014is to work together to ensure that the content that children are accessing, wherever they are, is suitable for their age.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department For Education had previously issued guidance February of 2024 under the last government, stating that mobile phone use should be addressed in school behaviour policies<\/a> and that \u201cit is for school leaders to develop and implement a tailored policy<\/a> on the use of mobile phones and other similar devices.\u201d In October 2024, under the new Labour government, a further statement<\/a> reiterated this stance: \u201cAn outright ban of phones in schools isn\u2019t necessary because headteachers already have the power to ban phones in school. Most have chosen to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from the Lords Library claims that studies have shown that mobile phones have the potential to be distracting<\/a> in a school environment. According to the BBC, only 1%<\/a> of schools currently allow students unrestricted phone use. Given Labour\u2019s majority of 158 seats<\/a>, it is unlikely the conservative push for the ban will gain Parliamentary improvement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Intelligence\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey raised concerns<\/a> about British intelligence security, particularly in light of recent events in the United States. He questioned the implications of \u201cPresident Trump\u2019s relationship with Vladimir Putin and JD Vance\u2019s insulting disdain for Britain and our armed forces,\u201d and called for<\/a> \u201can urgent review into the security of the intelligence that we share with the United States.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Davey\u2019s concerns were prompted by the recent security lapse<\/a> in which a journalist was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat discussing military operations in Yemen. Signal is a widely used encrypted messaging platform<\/a>. The chat, titled \u201cHothi PC small group<\/a>,\u201d contained details about planned strikes against the Houthis, justifications for military action, and criticisms of European defense contributions. The breach was exposed by Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, leading to backlash from the MAGA movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response<\/a>, Prime Minister Starmer defended intelligence cooperation with the U.S., stating: \u201cWe work with the United States on a daily basis \u2026 unpicking our relations with the US on defence and security is neither responsible nor serious.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key concern in this incident was that classified targeting information was shared with an unintended recipient, raising questions about operational security. Additionally, the exposure of intelligence operatives’ personal data has intensified worries about the handling of sensitive communications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edited by Elizabeth Strassheim<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image:\u00a0Ed Davey MP (Kingston and Surbiton, Liberal Democrat)<\/a>\u00a0by House of Commons via Flickr \/\/\u00a0CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/p>\n

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