PRESS RELEASES

Friday, 18th November 2005

Blair Needs To Listen To Parliament Over Schools Policy

Tony Blair has defended government's plans for school reform in England, saying the reforms would help poor children reach their potential. He wants schools to take on greater powers over their finances, staff and admissions. His speech comes amid warnings of a possible rebellion by up to 100 backbenchers when the plans come to the Commons next year. Elsewhere, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has ruled out a return to academic selection in schools, as well as telling critics of the reforms that they were “plain wrong”.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting, Stephanie Dearden said:-

There are serious issues being raised over matters like selection and admissions policy. Tony Blair needs to listen to parliament and work with opponents to craft the right policy for our schools. If, yet again, he is intending to deploy all the arts of spin and manipulation and then to ride roughshod over reasoned argument and criticism in Parliament, he will be doing our teachers and our children a great disservice.

ENDS

  Stephanie Dearden

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting

Notes to editors

1. More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4447914.stm  and http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1877602,00.html 
    

2. If you would like to arrange an interview with Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting Stephanie Dearden then please call 020-7771-2551 or 07985-649807 or 07754 583090
3. Official photographs here http://www.stephaniedearden.org/smd_mugs/index.htm