TONY Blair's much-leaked plans to give parents and private firms more power to run schools, and to sideline local councils, have received poor marks from critics.
The Education White Paper, outlining the details, was given to MPs yesterday.
And although the Education Secretary and Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly said the aim was to give everyone, not just a privileged few, a fair deal, the government already faces major opposition.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has attacked the proposals, arguing that they will help richer parents, and Liberal Democrats say that Whitehall, not the town hall, has too much power.
Conservative spokesman David Cameron, favourite to become the party's next leader, said that what Tony Blair was putting forward was Tory policy. Mr Cameron told MPs: "When it comes to reform, isn't it the case that the Chancellor won't have it, the Cabinet doesn't like it, the Labour backbenchers won't wear it, the deputy prime minister can't bear it and the teaching unions and Labour local education authorities will try to stop it?"
Power
The White Paper not only sets up Trusts, giving local authorities less power, but there will be bus subsidies for poorer children to travel from a poor areas to better schools in richer areas.
It also introduces tougher sanctions against the parents of classroom hooligans, including £1,000 fines, and it will be easier for independent schools to opt-in to the State sector.
Ironically, Ruth Kelly was cheered throughout her speech in the Commons by Tory MPs - who believe the plans are equal to the grant maintained schools which Tony Blair scrapped eight years ago.
But Ms Kelly said the plan was to give head teachers the freedom they needed to improve their schools for the better.
Council leaders, who lose control of schools in the White Paper, say the reforms will leave them without enough clout to ensure that parents and pupils get a fair choice.
Do you think the Kelly plans will change schools? Have your say.
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Correct me if I'm wrong but this does look to me like Tony and Ruthy realy do have a reverse gear (I bet many forget he said that)
Fony should now be held to account for the billions wasted in what has been yet another social experiment by the Nanny State ?
If I'd wanted a tory government I would have voted for one.
This is yet another betrayal.
Ex Labour Voter
this is just another tory rip off in a long list by the spinmaster himself.
ms kelly was clapped and cheered by the tories in westminster yesterday - her own colleagues sat in stony silence. with that i think phony should take notice of what his didnt say in support of his plans.
saw an interview on tv with a headteacher who stated that she and her colleagues cannot keep up with the legislation changes that various education ministers have forced on the teaching profession, if they cannot keep pace with the changes how the hell do politicians expect parents to keep track of the changes.
phony was elected in '97 on his mantra of 'education, education, education', in 8 years he has screwed up the whole education system.
dont worry folks phony will not be around after the next election to pick up the pieces.
i am very glad that i am an ex-labour voter.