TORIES MAKE UNEDUCATED ATTACK ON LIB DEMS OVER SCHOOL REVIEW CHAOS

12.48.00pm GMT Fri 1st Feb 2008

Lib Dem MP for Hereford, Paul Keetch, has condemned the Conservative MP for Leominster, Bill Wiggin's personal attack on him regarding Herefordshire Council's disastrous school review proposals.

The spat between the MPs for the County of Herefordshire came about as a result of Mr Keetch's work behind the scenes obtaining urgent consultation with the Schools Minister, Jim Knight. Paul discussed the Herefordshire Council's plan twice since it was announced with the Minister and today he met with a party of school children from the Hereford constituency and listened to their concerns as well as receiving their letters of protest at the disconcerting impact of the Council's proposals on their schools. Teachers and parents were also present to air their views directly to the Minister.

Earlier in an interview with the press the Minister had named Herefordshire Council as being unimaginative and that by closing rural schools they were effectively closing down rural communities and must rethink proposals.

"I am surprised that the MP for Leominster has made a personal attack and seems to be upset by the fact that I am standing up for the schools in Herefordshire when this is a countywide issue we should not be fighting each other on.

"Attempts to promote the Tory candidate for my constituency in his press statement is simply playing party politics with our children's future and totally unacceptable," Mr Keetch said.

"I am pleased that I have been able to engage with the Minister and for him to have had the opportunity to meet some of my constituents affected by the atrocious way in which the Tory run Herefordshire Council has handled this issue. No amount of political posturing can deny these children have been let down by the Tories in our County. The Liberal Democrats are united in fighting this to protect our children's futures and the communities at the heart of the controversy. Rather than protect his Party by making a personal attack on me, Bill should be looking out for his constituents which he has been elected to do.

"The school in Hereford that my son attends is not being greatly affected. I wonder if the school that Bill Wiggin sends his children to is affected?"

Cllr Terry James, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Herefordshire Council commented, "It is quite astonishing that an MP can put his party before the electorate on such an emotive issue as this and quite convenient that he has forgotten how his Conservative colleagues running the Council welcomed the school review proposals with a vote of thanks and a round of applause for the officers on its content - only to 'recall' it a week later."

Sarah Carr, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, said, "It is quite despicable that children, parents, teachers and staff can be put in fear of their futures and have the Conservatives dismiss their feelings simply to make cheap shots at opposition politicians.

"The Liberal Democrats locally and nationally are working hard to protect our rural schools and communities from extinction in a compassionate and structured way - I don't see that coming from any other major party."

A question to the Prime Minister accusing central government of cutting funding for schools to local authorities by the Conservatives was shot down when the Prime Minister confirmed the levels of funding provided and added that the Conservatives had not supported additional funding when debated in the Commons and therefore only had themselves to blame if in difficulties now.