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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tories 'out of touch' on grammars | Tories 'out of touch' on grammars |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage has said the Tories are out of touch on grammar schools and he hopes disgruntled Tory MPs will defect to his party. | UKIP leader Nigel Farage has said the Tories are out of touch on grammar schools and he hopes disgruntled Tory MPs will defect to his party. |
| He said Tory leader David Cameron's advisors were largely ex-public schoolboys, and many backbenchers were "very tired of the Cameron project". | He said Tory leader David Cameron's advisors were largely ex-public schoolboys, and many backbenchers were "very tired of the Cameron project". |
| A decision to end traditional support for grammars has angered many Tory MPs. | A decision to end traditional support for grammars has angered many Tory MPs. |
| But education spokesman David Willetts defended the policy, and said it was not an attack on existing grammars. | But education spokesman David Willetts defended the policy, and said it was not an attack on existing grammars. |
| Earlier in the week the Tories announced they would end their traditional support for such schools and instead take Tony Blair's city academies project even further. | Earlier in the week the Tories announced they would end their traditional support for such schools and instead take Tony Blair's city academies project even further. |
| Backbench anger | Backbench anger |
| But it has been denounced as "ridiculous" and "absurd" by some angry Tory backbenchers. | But it has been denounced as "ridiculous" and "absurd" by some angry Tory backbenchers. |
| On Sunday, Mr Farage said only his party could offer a choice on the issue. | On Sunday, Mr Farage said only his party could offer a choice on the issue. |
| I think this is a disconnect between the David Cameron set and real people Nigel Farage Farage on Tories | I think this is a disconnect between the David Cameron set and real people Nigel Farage Farage on Tories |
| "It's UKIP that believes in academic selection and believes in grammar schools - we know they work," he told BBC One's AM programme. | "It's UKIP that believes in academic selection and believes in grammar schools - we know they work," he told BBC One's AM programme. |
| "The electorate will say: 'What's the difference between the Conservative Party and the Labour Party?' The answer is, not very much." | "The electorate will say: 'What's the difference between the Conservative Party and the Labour Party?' The answer is, not very much." |
| He accused Mr Cameron's "set" of being largely former Eton public schoolboys, suggesting they were out of touch with the "real world". | He accused Mr Cameron's "set" of being largely former Eton public schoolboys, suggesting they were out of touch with the "real world". |
| Possible defections | Possible defections |
| "I think this is a disconnect between the David Cameron set and real people," he said. | "I think this is a disconnect between the David Cameron set and real people," he said. |
| Asked whether the policy would cause Tory MPs to defect he said there were an "awful lot" of MPs who were tired of David Cameron's efforts to change the party. | Asked whether the policy would cause Tory MPs to defect he said there were an "awful lot" of MPs who were tired of David Cameron's efforts to change the party. |
| He added: "Whether this proves to be the straw that breaks the camel's back, I don't know. I do think we are not very far away from that point." | He added: "Whether this proves to be the straw that breaks the camel's back, I don't know. I do think we are not very far away from that point." |
| I am confident that that is going to improve social mobility in this country today David Willetts onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({storyId:6674177, fileLoc: '/player/nol/newsid_6670000/newsid_6674100/', bbwm: 1,nbram: 1,nbwm: 1,bbram: 1});return false;" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6670000/newsid_6674100?redirect=6674177.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1">Willetts on U-turn | |
| Earlier in the week Mr Willetts said it was a "fantasy" to say selection at the age of 11 could be fair. | Earlier in the week Mr Willetts said it was a "fantasy" to say selection at the age of 11 could be fair. |
| And he said a "shockingly low" number of children from poor backgrounds were getting into grammar schools, while middle class children were being coached to pass the exam. | And he said a "shockingly low" number of children from poor backgrounds were getting into grammar schools, while middle class children were being coached to pass the exam. |
| But on Sunday he told the AM programme the Conservatives were not attacking existing grammar schools. | But on Sunday he told the AM programme the Conservatives were not attacking existing grammar schools. |
| He said the party wanted to improve social mobility in the "large parts of the country where grammar schools have gone". | He said the party wanted to improve social mobility in the "large parts of the country where grammar schools have gone". |
| And he said a return to grammar schools would not be feasible or would not tackle the "big problem of declining opportunities in Britain today". | And he said a return to grammar schools would not be feasible or would not tackle the "big problem of declining opportunities in Britain today". |
| He added: "I am confident that that is going to improve social mobility in this country today which I think is a fundamental Conservative principle and I'm thinking afresh about how we can deliver that in education." | He added: "I am confident that that is going to improve social mobility in this country today which I think is a fundamental Conservative principle and I'm thinking afresh about how we can deliver that in education." |
| Former Conservative leader Michael Howard, who has been reported to be furious at Mr Willetts over his speech, has said he is making no comment on the row. | Former Conservative leader Michael Howard, who has been reported to be furious at Mr Willetts over his speech, has said he is making no comment on the row. |