The bill encourages the market to make further inroads into education and will lead to more testing, streaming and selection on ability. Where Foundation schools and city academies – the forerunners to trust schools – have been set up, it has led to more exclusions, less pay for teachers, more involvement in a profit-driven ethos, and falling rolls in neighbouring schools.

However the passing of the education white paper also marks a watershed in modern British politics. If you were not already convinced that the parliamentary Labour Party has been hijacked by right wingers, then here is your wake-up call.

The fact that Blair needed the Tories to pass the paper illustrates the these are Tory reforms. John McDonald, well respected Labour MP and chair of the left wing campaign group, said that:

"Blair has now effectively resigned as the leader of the party."

The implication is that Blair is now running a coalition government with the Tories. Blair is systematically taking apart the socially progressive gains in education that even Thatcher was unable to get through, because of a strong oppositional voice. Some of those same voices are now behind this right-wing agenda.

Respect will continue to fight the new proposals on a local and national level.

Labels: A Good Local School for Every Child