Government cannot be sure of its majority on Education Bill

Principled rebels await further concessions

Following the publication of the Government's Education and Inspections Bill, principled rebels remain of the view that the Bill is unacceptable as it will undermine comprehensive education.

John McDonnell MP, Chair of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs, said:

“The Bill remains unacceptable to any Labour MP seeking to ensure fair access to a decent education for all their constituents, rich or poor. It will prove acceptable to the Tories because it is based upon the principles of the Grant Maintained System, which we inherited from them and were elected to abolish.

“Having secured a series of concessions so far, our strategy will be to await further Government shifts - as even with those concessions the Government cannot be sure of its majority

“The Bill lays the foundation stones of a competitive education system based upon selection and private sector management. The legacy agenda of Tony Blair will be a legacy for our children of a divide in education provision between thriving schools in middle class areas and declining schools in working class areas.”

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