Tories attack themselves
April 2005

Lillian Baylis Technology School where Tony Blair spoke to confirm that education was still Labour's "number one priority"

The Conservative Party has condemned education in Lambeth over the past two years - then immediately came under attack after it was pointed out that they shared control of schooling in the borough. The embarrassing gaffe came after Tony Blair spoke at Lambeth’s Lilian Baylis technology school and confirmed that education was still Labour's "number one priority".

The Conservatives' research department in Central Office issued a briefing document criticising Lambeth's record on education whilst Conservative had been sharing control.

A spokesperson for the national Labour Party detailed the Government’s achievements in the borough: "Lambeth schools have been transformed thanks to Labour. In 1997 just 28.6% of pupils got five good GCSEs. This had risen to 47.7% by 2004. Real funding per pupil has risen by over £1,000 since 1997 and there are 120 new teachers and over 400 teaching assistants since 1997."

Labour Councillors and local parents were particularly galled by the Tory gaffe given that their coalition with the Liberals delayed £20M of Government funding to build a new secondary school for three years, leaving hundreds of local children without an allocated secondary place in April 2005. They have also opposed a campaign led by parents to build a Government-funded new secondary school on an empty site on Brixton Hill - even though there is a lack of places locally.

Councillor Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth Labour Party said:

“This would be funny if it wasn’t such an important issue. The Tories haven’t got a clue when it comes to investing in schools and education. “

“When they were in Government the Tories slashed education funding. Now they are in power in Lambeth, they’re blocking and delaying Labour’s attempts to improve secondary school provision in the borough.”

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