All 3 major parties are trying to outbid each other in pledging to increase spending on a key public service.

They clearly recognise the vital importance of investing in this service for our future economic and social well-being. They also know how much people value it.

I think I heard them saying things like:

“We are confident we can invest further in post-16 and adult education. The economy has been turned round and we will generate above inflation increases in funding and at least the £billions needed.”

“We are promising extra £billions per year to be paid for by a new tax. We have a funded plan for more teachers, lecturers and course hours.”

“We have said how we will plug the funding gap identified by the sector and prevent services being cut. The other parties must come clean about how they would do this.”

I might not have been concentrating properly so I added the words in italics based on what I thought was most likely given the dire state of funding for post-16, further and adult education and the vital contribution of this work – alongside other public services.

That was right wasn’t it?