(posted 7479 days ago)Telegraph
Labour hypocrisy row as MP picks private school
By Liz Lightfoot
(Filed: 28/10/2003)Labour leaders backed Diane Abbott, the Left-wing MP, yesterday over her decision to educate her son privately, days after condemning a Tory MP for saying he would do the same.
Ian Peacock, a barrister and Hackney Labour councillor, criticised Oliver Letwin on Oct 16, saying he had "outraged parents and teachers by insulting London schools".
But yesterday he said of Miss Abbott: "I think it is every parent's right to make an individual choice and I don't think we can criticise people for the choice they make."
His remarks were mirrored by Stephen Twigg, the minister responsible for London schools, who censured Mr Letwin for saying he would rather beg on the streets than send his daughter to his local, low-achieving state school in Kennington, south east London.
Two weeks ago Mr Twigg said the shadow home affairs spokesman had "insulted the parents, teachers and pupils of every state school in the country".
Yesterday however, he said he had "no comment to make" on Miss Abbott's decision.
Labour MPs were taken by surprise by the news that she had chosen the £10,000-a-year City of London Boys School for her son, by-passing four comprehensives in Hackney and Stoke Newington, the constituency she represents.
In the past Miss Abbott has criticised the Prime Minister, for rejecting schools in Islington and sending his sons to the London Oratory School in Fulham, and Harriet Harman, the Solicitor General, for choosing a grammar school outside her constituency. She once said of Miss Harman: "She made the Labour Party look as if we do one thing and say another."
Eric Ollerenshaw, leader of the Conservatives in Hackney and on the Greater London Assembly, said: "It is gross hypocrisy and a pity. Schools in Hackney have been getting better since the Government took them out of the hands of Labour councillors and brought in private contractors.
"Every parent has to do the best for their child, of course, but it is hypocritical to criticise others for something you then do yourself.
"Labour has been in power for six years and it is hardly a vote of confidence in their policies when the party's own MPs do not trust state schools which have been virtually taken over by the Government."
Miss Abbott, 50, a Cambridge graduate, was the first black woman MP when elected 16 years ago.
A member of the Campaign Group of Left-wing MPs, she has urged black parents to become "more engaged in a constructive way" with the school system.
City of London, a selective, first division independent school, came 43rd of 287 in the A-level league table for the fee-paying sector.
Cardinal Pole RC, the comprehensive nearest to Miss Abbott's home, was praised by Ofsted as "a very effective school" but only 40 per cent of pupils gained five or more GCSEs this year compared with 100 per cent at City of London.
Schools in Hackney have been run by a "not for profit" private education trust led by Mike Tomlinson, the former chief inspector for schools, since the local authority was stripped of its powers for failing in its duties.
Mr Peacock, the council's chief of education, said it was a parent's right to make an individual choice.
He also criticised Mr Letwin 11 days ago on Hackney Labour Party's website saying: "So Oliver Letwin claims he 'would go out on the streets and beg rather than send his children to the school next to where I live'. He includes Hackney schools in this.
"How arrogant! I find his comments deeply insulting to children, parents and teachers in Hackney, who work so hard to achieve results. The last thing we need is comments like these."
But of Miss Abbott, Mr Peacock said: "I don't think we can single out particular parents because of the position they happen to be in.
"It is entirely a matter for parents. I don't really think people can sit outside making judgments."
Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, who faced criticism from Labour Party members over his choice of private education for his daughters, said: "The irony is that the same people who criticised me for the choice I made are now supporting Diane for doing the same."
Joe Deer, spokesman for Hackney Labour Party, said Mr Peacock made a distinction between "Oliver Letwin making comments about policy at a Conservative Party conference" and "Diane Abbott who hasn't made a direct comment".