After digging itself into holes over pensioners and disabled people, Labour picks on kids

Bridget Phillipson is either very brave or very stupid. As a general rule, targeting children is not a vote-winner

- John Crace

Gluttons for punishment. You'd have thought that after their experience of the last week in which they were forced to make not one but two U-turn concessions to secure the support of MPs over the welfare bill, Labour would have been after a little downtime. Perhaps a chance to build bridges with backbenchers, a moment to regroup and hope the media can run stories about something other than where it all went wrong for Labour in its first year. Or just a chance to run down the clock to recess in a fortnight's time. Then everyone in Westminster can go home for six weeks. Give us a chance to forget. But that's not the style of this government.

No sooner has one row ended than Labour opens up another one. This time, the target isn't adults, it's children. Which makes the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, either very brave or very stupid. As a general rule, picking on kids is not a vote-winner.

No matter. On her media round on Sunday, Bridget very deliberately refused to guarantee there would be no cuts in her planned reforms of special educational needs and disability (Send) provision, and when the junior minister Stephen Morgan was asked the same questions yesterday, he too refused to rule out any changes.