Parliament: PM's Questions: Blair `has lied' over grammar school pledge

TONY BLAIR "lied" when he promised Labour would not close down grammar schools because his party activists were now campaigning to do just that, William Hague said yesterday.

But the Prime Minister insisted during question time that the power to close such schools had been transferred to pupils' parents and did not rest with the Government anymore.

In angry exchanges, Mr Hague referred to a letter to parents during the Wirral South by-election in February 1997 in which he said Mr Blair pledged that a Labour government would not shut any grammar schools.

"When the Labour Party made that promise at the last election, they lied to people. Isn't it time that, instead of their hypocrisy, you called off the members of the Labour Party from destroying some of the best schools in the country?

Replying, Mr Blair stressed his Government had not closed a single grammar school. "The Labour Government has no power to close grammar schools. The power used to vest in local education authorities. It now vests in parents. It is a decision to be made by parents. I may say, so far, none have chosen to close any grammar schools."

The Prime Minister added: "This Government is putting money into all our schools because we want to see not just some but all our children get a decent education.

"Your government, of which you were a cabinet member, cut spending per pupil by pounds 80 a pupil for all schoolchildren. We are raising it by pounds 200 per pupil.

"That is the difference between a Conservative [Government] for the few and a Labour Government for the many."

The Tory leader quoted Mr Blair as having said in his letter to parents during the by-election campaign: "Let me put the record straight, a Labour government will not close your grammar schools - that is my personal guarantee."

Mr Hague challenged him: "Now the campaigns to close them are run by Labour Party activists and you are the leader of the Labour Party.

"Has the warranty expired on your guarantee or just what's left of your principles?

"My personal guarantee is that I will campaign against your party to save the grammar schools. Are you going to join me?"

Mr Blair accused the Tory leader of "talking complete nonsense" because before the Government's legislation on the matter, the power to close a grammar school lay with the LEA and it then went to the Education and Employment Secretary of State.

t Mr Blair defended the National Health Service reforms amid bitter criticism from junior doctors and the British Medical Association. Mr Hague accused ministers of breaking their manifesto pledge to cut waiting lists. But Mr Blair insisted NHS waiting list numbers were down 62,000 and the number of junior doctors working more than 56 hours a week had fallen from 6,500 to 4,800 since Labour came to power.