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Labour MP attacks academy group in maiden parliamentary speech Labour MP attacks academy group in maiden parliamentary speech
(about 3 hours later)
A Labour MP used his maiden speech in parliament to label a controversial academy chain as “robber barons” and asset strippers – provoking a strong rebuttal from Inspiration Trust, which runs the academies.A Labour MP used his maiden speech in parliament to label a controversial academy chain as “robber barons” and asset strippers – provoking a strong rebuttal from Inspiration Trust, which runs the academies.
Clive Lewis, the newly elected MP for Norwich South, accused Inspiration Trust of being behind efforts by the Department for Education to force a local secondary school into becoming an academy and being sponsored by the chain.Clive Lewis, the newly elected MP for Norwich South, accused Inspiration Trust of being behind efforts by the Department for Education to force a local secondary school into becoming an academy and being sponsored by the chain.
“Not content with taking over our schools and giving parents no say in their children’s education, they crave ever more power and wealth,” Lewis, a former army reservist who served in Afghanistan, told the Commons.“Not content with taking over our schools and giving parents no say in their children’s education, they crave ever more power and wealth,” Lewis, a former army reservist who served in Afghanistan, told the Commons.
“Now they want to take from the people of Norwich, the Hewett local authority school and the £60m pounds of land it sits on – land that belongs to the people of our city.“Now they want to take from the people of Norwich, the Hewett local authority school and the £60m pounds of land it sits on – land that belongs to the people of our city.
“And then there’s the Earlham early years Sure Start centre, in one of the most deprived parts of my city – now told by its new landlords, the Inspiration Trust, that they’re to be evicted and must seek new premises. Indeed, the robber barons are back.” “And then there’s the Earlham early years Sure Start centre in one of the most deprived parts of my city – now told by its new landlords, the Inspiration Trust, that they’re to be evicted and must seek new premises. Indeed, the robber barons are back.”
The gloves are off so to speak:... http://t.co/Owwcr3ZTB4The gloves are off so to speak:... http://t.co/Owwcr3ZTB4
Lewis concluded by saying that the people of Norwich would “not be asset-stripped and thrown out on to the streets without a fight – a fight I am proud to be part of.Lewis concluded by saying that the people of Norwich would “not be asset-stripped and thrown out on to the streets without a fight – a fight I am proud to be part of.
“At the end of it all, I only hope I fare slightly better than [16th century rebel] William Kett. Captured by the nobles, he was eventually executed and his body left hanging in chains from Norwich castle. The Inspiration Trust is ruthless, but I hope not quite that ruthless.”“At the end of it all, I only hope I fare slightly better than [16th century rebel] William Kett. Captured by the nobles, he was eventually executed and his body left hanging in chains from Norwich castle. The Inspiration Trust is ruthless, but I hope not quite that ruthless.”
Inspiration Trust manages 12 academies and free schools in Norfolk and Suffolk. It is chaired by Sir Theodore Agnew, its founding sponsor, a Tory party donor who until this year was a DfE non-executive director and chair of its academies board.Inspiration Trust manages 12 academies and free schools in Norfolk and Suffolk. It is chaired by Sir Theodore Agnew, its founding sponsor, a Tory party donor who until this year was a DfE non-executive director and chair of its academies board.
In response, Rachel de Souza, the trust’s chief executive, said: “We are disappointed by Clive Lewis’s speech. We are always keen to work with our local politicians, and invited Mr Lewis to come and visit the trust in March. Unfortunately, he chose not to come.” In response, Rachel de Souza, the trust’s chief executive, said: “We are disappointed by Clive Lewis’s speech. We are always keen to work with our local politicians and invited Mr Lewis to come and visit the trust in March. Unfortunately, he chose not to come.”
De Souza rejected the “robber baron” label and said the chain’s trustees had personally donated £130,000 this year to support education in Norfolk.De Souza rejected the “robber baron” label and said the chain’s trustees had personally donated £130,000 this year to support education in Norfolk.
“The future of the Hewett school is currently the subject of a public consultation. As part of that, the Inspiration Trust has repeatedly stated that – should the Hewett become part of our family of schools – we will not sell the land. Instead, we are committed to safeguarding it for educational and community use,” she said.“The future of the Hewett school is currently the subject of a public consultation. As part of that, the Inspiration Trust has repeatedly stated that – should the Hewett become part of our family of schools – we will not sell the land. Instead, we are committed to safeguarding it for educational and community use,” she said.
“We’ve been delighted to work with the Earlham early years centre since 2009, with the centre using spare space at Norwich primary academy. The school’s success means we now need that space to further improve the education of our pupils.“We’ve been delighted to work with the Earlham early years centre since 2009, with the centre using spare space at Norwich primary academy. The school’s success means we now need that space to further improve the education of our pupils.
“Far from ‘evicting’ the centre, we are working with them to find new premises and gave them twice the three-month notice required by their lease.”“Far from ‘evicting’ the centre, we are working with them to find new premises and gave them twice the three-month notice required by their lease.”