Making a difference to the people of Medway

Cllr Les Wicks: Labour minister opposes his own government's education policies

Letter posted on Thursday, 28 May 2009

Sir, I am mystified by the hypocritical stance the local MP for Chatham and Aylesford has taken by opposing the proposed changes to Medway’s primary schools. It is his government, in which he is a Junior Minister, which is pressing Medway Council to make such changes under the Primary Capital Programme; a policy that the government is using to make “efficiency savings” through the removal of surplus places in schools. His fellow Ministers have set themselves targets to make cuts to save £144 million from the DCSF’s budget by taking action in schools where there are more than 25 percent of empty places. These are the guidelines that we’ve followed here in Medway. Surely the Minister is not opposing his own government’s policies?

The MP has also told us, at a meeting with the Leader of Medway Council, that he and his government expect the primary changes to be bold. Yet here he is opposing bold changes when they are proposed. He accuses Medway Council of ignoring public opinion, but it is his fellow Labour councillors who have hindered plans to discuss the proposals with concerned parents, pupils and teachers by calling in the decision to go out to consultation – another part of the guidance given to us by the Labour government.

We want to hear from all those who have a view about these proposals, but this is being derailed by the actions of Labour politicians who are opposing their own government’s policies at every turn.

Cllr Les Wicks – Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services