This week saw another jaw dropping example of incompetence of this current government with the revelation that school buildings that were built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) are now deemed to be unsafe and at risk of collapse at any moment.

A flood of concerned parents and teachers have understandably contacted my office in recent days horrified at the thought that as the new term begins they are potentially sending their children into school buildings which could collapse with practically no warning.

Just as concerning are the consequences this may have for triggering the asbestos that shockingly remains rife across school buildings. As the chair of the APPG on Occupation Health and Safety I have long campaigned for the government to act swiftly and decisively to produce a timeline for removing all asbestos from public buildings, including schools.

Asbestos is present in a staggering 81% of our schools, and recent data published by the Health and Safety Executive shows that in the UK the number of teachers, and indeed students, dying from asbestos related illnesses was on the increase.

The current position of the government, that this asbestos can lie dormant and undisturbed, has long been debunked, but this new scandal brings fresh concerns. If school buildings are at risk of falling down then there is also the additional factor that this will activate the supposedly dormant asbestos in our schools, therefore literally putting the lives of countless school staff and students at risk.

I have since written to the Secretary of State for Education and CEO of Northumberland County Council to ensure that everything is being done as quickly as possible to identity where Raac is present in schools here in Wansbeck and across Northumberland and what plans are in place to deal with this issue as a matter of upmost urgency.

Sadly this is yet another calamity from a government who have not only ran out of ideas or purpose, but the ability to do any basic level of governing at all. What has it come to when all we are asking for is that children can go to school feeling sure that the building won’t literally collapse on top of them?

Sweeping changes are needed for our country where it feels like nothing works anymore, and this must begin first and foremost with an election as soon as possible so we can see the back of this dreadful Conservative government.