(posted 7503 days ago)The Sun
Fury over Letwin dig at school
By GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON
Friday, October 10, 2003TORY toff Oliver Letwin was blasted last night after claiming he would rather BEG than send his kids to a state school.
The Shadow Home Secretary dismissed the comprehensive in his neighbourhood as not good enough for his son and daughter.
The Eton-educated MP said he would be happy for ten-year-old twins Jeremy and Laura to attend state schools in his Dorset constituency – but not in South London where they also have a home.
He told a fringe meeting in Blackpool: “In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school.
“If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school where I live.” Sources believe Mr Letwin was referring to the Lilian Baylis School in Kennington.
Just six per cent of its pupils passed GCSEs at grades A to C last year.
But a high proportion come from ethnic backgrounds and many do not even speak English.
But the inner-city school, with 600 pupils and 40 teachers, has won several arts and drama contests.
Head Gary Phillips said: “It is another example of the Tories losing touch with the general public.
“Has Mr Letwin ever wondered if 100 per cent A-C grades at a school which only accepts gifted children from wealthy homes is as much of an achievement as a 10 per cent record of A-C grades at a school where the children can’t speak English when they start there? I doubt it.”