Liberal Democrats announce Motion on Tory education Policy

2.58.16pm GMT Wed 17th Mar 2010

Following the decision to press ahead with closing King Edward VII in Melton and the Government's announcement that Leicestershire will not receive BSF funding for Loughborough, the Liberal Democrats have put down a motion to the next full Council Meeting.

Group Leader Simon Galton said: "I am proposing a motion to start a debate, its widely expected that a General Election will be called in early April and I think people need to know what the parties stand for on important local issues like education.

With the fiasco of school planning in Melton and the failure of the Labour Government to invest in Loughborough schools - it is widely believed that Leicestershire pupils are getting a raw deal. But our research shows us that Tory education policy would do nothing to help Leicestershire.

Under a Tory Government, we would see less investment in local schools. BSF funding, vital to rejuvenating existing good schools would be redirected to private educational companies that are unaccountable to local councils. At the same time, the Tory's would centralise decision making by transferring powers to Ministers in Whitehall.

In contrast, Lib Dem policy would invest £2.5bn in pupils aimed at reducing primary school classes and would create a law giving local authorities and schools more powers and freedoms.

This debate is important - our children's future is our own future, and I personally don't want to see it damaged by the Conservatives latest ill advised and contradictory policies."