Cameron attacks Blair on schools

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The Conservative leader, David Cameron, has launched a fierce attack on Labour's record on education.

At prime minister's question time on Wednesday, he accused Tony Blair of "complacency" in education.

Mr Cameron said the chief inspector of schools in England, Christine Gilbert, had called figures for 11-year-olds unable to read a "national disaster".

Mr Blair admitted there was more to do, but said things were a "darn sight better" than they had been before 1997.

Mr Cameron said statistics from the Treasury showed more than one in six children were leaving school unable to read, write or add up.

Anyone who goes to any school in any constituency will see the changes and improvements that have been made Tony Blair

"Given that young people leaving school today have spent almost all their schooling under a Labour government, doesn't that show the extent of your failure?

"One fifth of school children can't actually find Great Britain on a map," said Mr Cameron.

He said Mr Blair might have "spent the extra money but he isn't getting the basics right".

Mr Cameron also made a jibe aimed at Chancellor Gordon Brown, saying: "He isn't much of a clunking fist. He can't even get rid of a lame duck."

Mr Blair admitted that the number of children passing the national reading tests had fallen from 84% to 83%, but said that was a "huge improvement" on results under the Tories.

"I agree we still have a lot more to do but thanks to investment and reform under this government, much progress has been made," he said.

"Over the last 10 years, results are up, investment is up, schools are getting better and anyone who goes to any school in any constituency will see the changes and improvements that have been made."