Ruth Kelly- another nail in the coffin of Labour's 'socialist' past....

Ruth Kelly announced today that she is to send her son to a Private School http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6243475.stm. Well, what a surprise. If I ever started to believe that New Labour was a Socialist Party, I was knocked back to my senses today with this enlightening statement. The fact that her son has 'substantial learning difficulties' is neither here nor there when we are debating the merits of free education versus the merits of private education. Private education is for the privileged few, and I am totally opposed to it. Children should receive the best possible education through the public sector. What makes Ruth Kelly's situation different to thousands of parents like her all over Britain? Surely, as a Labour Minister (formerly Education) she should be setting an example to others by promoting state education, developing its structures, and making sure that the best possible facilities are available for children with learning difficulties like her son's?

In a statement today, Tony Blair's official spokesperson said that Blair believes that parents should have the 'right to decide', and is supportive of a mixture of state and private schooling. What a shocking statement from a PM that has introduced tuition fees and top-up fees, a PM that advocates City Academies and PFI funded schools. A shock indeed.

So while the gap between Tory and New Labour becomes ever more blurred, with Cameron piping up in support of Ruth Kelly, it seems the Lib dems are finding common ground with the other two Parties on this issue. Lib dem Sarah Tethers was today nominated to exclaim, 'It's unfair to criticise a parent for choices they make for their individual child.' Are there any differences at all between these Parties any more? It seems highly unlikely.

While Plaid are fighting to keep small schools open, for free education for all, for more investment in part-time study and vocational courses, the others are huddling together in their perceived middle ground, and privatisation seems to be at the very heart of it.