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Last week Chief Whip Hilary let slip the fact that she’s got a copy of my letter to Grimsby Headteachers about the Education White Paper. The letter was pretty critical (see below since Ian Cawsey tells me it’s circulating round the Whips office) but the basic points were endorsed by Tony at the PLP i.e. we should concentrate on the worst schools in the worst areas. Tony says we will. Don’t want the advantaged schools to drain the others or be selective. Tony says they wouldn’t. Keep LEAs. Tony said we could. It will be modified by discussion and consultation. Tony said it will be.
What a loyalist I turned out to be. But the snitch didn’t intend that. So who snitched to the Chief Whip? Couldn’t have been a Head. They wouldn’t know the channels. Couldn’t have been a local activist. They’d agree with the letter. It can’t have been anyone who puts helping my career above currying a little favour with the Glitterati. Suggestions please, 90 days’ detention for getting it right.
The infamous Zinoviev letter:
Dear Headteacher,
Re: Education White Paper – Higher Standards, Better Schools For All
I am enclosing the Government's new education White Paper plus a copy of the statements by Tony Blair and Education Secretary Ruth Kelly.
I can't claim to like the proposals or the perpetual changes we are forcing upon the education sector. These proposals seem to me to be a setback to schools in the most deprived areas – exactly the ones on which extra spending and resources need to be targeted at. It's destruction of the comprehensive principle, which I support, and I see little point in the emasculation of the Local Education Authority. All told, this is a dog's dinner which won't do anything for Grimsby.
I hope these proposals will be much modified in the course of implementation and that the divisions in the Cabinet will lead to more discussion in the Parliamentary Labour Party. I will try to consult as widely as possible on this issue and would welcome any comments from you.
Yours sincerely
Austin Mitchell
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