PRIME minister Rishi Sunak has been invited to visit a Bournemouth school which is set for a multi-million-pound rebuild.
Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns extended the offer for Mr Sunak to attend the Oak Academy site in Duck Lane during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, December 7.
Mr Burns was speaking in the House of Commons for the first time since having the Conservative Party whip restored.
This was after the party found there was no case to answer in relation to an allegation made against the MP, which saw him sacked as a trade minister in October.
Mr Burns said: “Mr Speaker can I thank you and colleagues across the house for your kindness and encouragement in recent weeks.
“Can I ask my Right Honourable friend the Prime Minister this afternoon to recommit the Government he leads to our ambition of levelling up communities in every part of our great United Kingdom?
“And to that end could I invite my Right Honourable friend to come and visit my Bournemouth West constituency and see the latest school rebuild, the multi-million-pound rebuild of the Oak Academy, which will stand as a lasting tribute of opportunity to the people I have the privilege of serving in this House.”
Mr Burns was cheered by his Tory colleagues as he rose to speak.
In response, Mr Sunak said: “Can I say that it is very nice to hear from my Right Honourable friend today and he’s absolutely right.
“There is no better way to spread opportunity around the country than by investing in our children’s future.
“I am absolutely delighted that Oak Academy in his constituency is benefitting from our school rebuilding programme and I will certainly ask my office to keep his kind invitation in mind.”
As reported, Oak Academy secondary school is one of the first 50 sites across the country to be prioritised for a rebuild by the Department for Education.
- Read more: Rebuild plans for Oak Academy school in Bournemouth tabled
- Read more: Oak Academy responds to requires improvement Ofsted rating
The plans, which are still being assessed by BCP Council, see a phased demolition of existing school buildings with a new single building for all subjects constructed.
Once complete, the rebuild will allow the school to increase in size from around 500 pupils to 900 pupils.
Subject to planning approval, the project could be completed as soon as 2024.
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