Liberal Democrats claim “Labour siding with Tories”

LIBERAL Democrats on Warrington Borough Council say they are “amazed” that the controlling Labour Group was not prepared to support a motion criticising Government education policy.
They say Labour “sided with the Tories” at the monthly meeting of the council in refusing to support a Lib Dem proposal.
Lib Dem Cllr Ian Marks said: “We were very happy to support Labour’s call for a fairer deal for Warrington schools which has the backing of teachers and governing bodies throughout the town.
“But we were amazed when they refused to support our amendment criticising the Tory government.  From a party that is bitterly divided both nationally and locally this displayed a rare degree of unity.”
Cllr Marks said the Government was pouring billions of pounds into building new free schools while existing state schools were crumbling due to lack of repairs.
The Government spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, said £14 billion was needed to bring current schools up to a good condition.  Many free schools were being built in areas where there was no shortage of capacity putting nearby schools at financial risk.
Cllr Marks continued: “The Tory chairman of the Commons Education Committee has said there are significant concerns about the performance, accountability and expansion of multi-academy trusts.  The National Association of Head teachers and the National Governors Association have written to the Chancellor saying they are running out of things to cut.
“Former Conservative Education Secretary Lord Baker criticised one of his successors Michael Gove for his opposition to University Technical Colleges, which would offer much needed vocational education.  Ironically it was the opening of our own UTC which contributed to the closure of Future Tech.
“The Prime Minister’s pet personal crusade is grammar schools even though there was nothing in the Tories’ manifesto about lifting the ban on new grammars.  Last weekend senior politicians from each of the three parties joined forces to condemn plans for new grammar schools as damaging to social mobility, ideologically driven and divisive.
“Our amendment called on the Government to listen to these concerns and give local authorities like Warrington more say over school provision in their areas.  We think this would be the best for our children.  Yet Labour refused to support this proposal.”