Ministers have come under pressure to increase their commitment to Sure Start early years centres as a tribute to their political architect, Tessa Jowell, who died of brain cancer at the weekend. The Labour MP Lisa Nandy, who was Jowell’s parliamentary aide during her time as shadow Olympics minister, told the Guardian: “Sure Start was one of Tessa’s greatest achievements. She knew how important family life was to her and how important strong families in particular are to disadvantaged children. She told MPs: “When I was a young mum, it was the Sure Start centre that really helped me and my son. And for all that’s said and done in this chamber, that is the best that any honourable member can hope to have achieved.”Yvette Cooper described Jowell, a former cabinet minister, as the “mother of Sure Start”.

Source: The Guardian May 14, 2018 18:14 UTC