Lib Dem MP Andrew George votes against coalition Academies Bill in Parliament
Rebellion from a Westcountry MP has failed to prevent legislation allowing schools to break free from council control being rushed through Parliament.
Andrew George, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, voted against the coalition Government's flagship Academies Bill over fears it is a "hastily put together education experiment".
-
Andrew George
Mr George, who had previously voiced concerns over coalition Government plans to raise VAT, was the only Westcountry Lib Dem to vote against the policy being championed by the Conservatives.
His "no" vote will fuel further tensions within the Con-Lib coalition, which in the Westcountry has to date been largely harmonious.
The Bill was passed with a Government majority of 92, completing its Commons passage in an unusually short period and allowing a radical overhaul of the school system in England. The legislation aims to create the first of a new wave of academy schools, free from local authority control, to be in place in September.
More than 120 Westcountry schools have already signalled a desire to be transformed into academies, the centrepiece of Education Secretary Michael Gove's revamp of schools.
Mr George said he was worried about "the speed at which the legislation was being brought forward" and feared it would create a "two-tier education system".
In a statement issued by his office in Cornwall, he said he was also uncomfortable about "ploughing millions of pounds into a hastily put together education experiment at a time of public sector spending restraint". That the Bill came shortly after deep cuts to school building and refurbishment programmes also raised alarm, he said.
Earlier during the Bill's passage, Mr George was one of six Lib Dem MPs who rebelled against the coalition Government by calling for parents to be balloted if a school governor objected it to becoming an academy.
Passing the Academies Bills also paves the way for parents, charities and other organisations to set up controversial Swedish-style "free schools".
During Commons debates, Dan Rogerson, MP for North Cornwall, had expressed reservations about the academies proposal, saying the "jury is still out".
In the event, Mr Rogerson, along with the remaining Lib Dem MPs in Devon and Cornwall, voted in favour of the legislation. Mr George was joined in opposition by Labour MPs Ben Bradshaw and Alison Seabeck.
In further signs of tension growing between the two parties of Government, Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP for Bridgwater, was among more than 40 Tory MPs to sign a Commons motion protesting at plans to hold a referendum on voting reform on the same day as key elections in Scotland and Wales.
13 Comments
View all
by David, St Austell
Thursday, July 29 2010, 9:04AM
“Is this the same Andrew George who spoke out against the rise in VAT on Spotlight TV and when the vote came did not vote against it?”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 5:51PM
“:| @Justin
Oh God! . No! . Please help me! . . One of my Grandfathers was a Shetlander. . I just hope we're not related. . No. . .No; . . No!.
:( Noooooooooo!
And SarahJ, you mustn't pick on Justin. . He tries very hard. . He's good in the kitchen, and his come a very long way these last few years I can assure you.
.”
by Freethinker, Cornwall
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 4:11PM
“Sorry to disappoint you Sarah J.
I've never read My Struggle by Adolf Hitler, and have no intentions to, ever.
Secondly, I don't hang around Amsterdam cafes.
Thirdly, I hate Jimi Hendrix. I prefer the music or film scores of Alex North, Jerry Goldsmith, John Barry and of course that great classical composer Beethoven.
Freethinker”
by SarahJ, Cornwall
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 2:46PM
“Peter B Wellington best ignore Justin same foolish lines on every topic no doubt brought up on a diet of Mein Kampf and the peoples little red book whilst listening to Jimi hendrix and hanging around cafes in Amsterdam, thinks more of himself than people reading his comments do, works well with Charles don¿t you think
You are 100% correct some did
"A lot of people voted for you to keep out the Tories, and now you are in bed with them"
But is not better to have some influence rather than none?”
by Freethinker, Cornwall
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 1:28PM
“It should be St. Clair Charles.
Its my Celtic roots me old mucker.
My great-grandmother came from the Shetland Islands.
I visited the Shetland Islands once, never again. Toooooooooo windy and no trees. How I miss Elstead.
Freethinker”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 12:31PM
“:) @Justin Sinclair, Cornwall
I see you've 'come out' at last Justin old mucker. (No offence or inference intended. Your beautiful partner assures me you are straight) . . Best Charles”
by Justin Sinclair, Cornwall
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 11:21AM
“Crumbs!. Aren't you a clever boy Peter B Wellington of Falmouth. How long did it take to work that equation out. All corporate party policy is set by the Social Change agents at the top of a "very" slippery tree. Their called thinktanks Peter. Its all about "change" we can believe in. A progressive social change in society.... Enjoy your pointless elections and voting.... You lot never learn do you.
Freethinker”
by Brian Hedges, Falmouth
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 11:17AM
“Cyril Howes,how correct you are NEVER NEVER again.”
by Cyril Howes, Cornwall
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 11:06AM
“Charles Henry,your presumption is incorrect.”
by Peter B Wellington, Wellington House Hotel, Falmouth.
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 10:34AM
“Mr George, you are now part of Government, so why not try and influence policy.
A lot of people voted for you to keep out the Tories, and now you are in bed with them (taxpayer funded of course).
The reason your own party takes absolutely no notice of what you do or say, or indeed give you a position in Government is that they know you will lose the next elction, and are totally ineffective after seeing the mess you have made of the Penzance Ferry link.
Enjoy it on expenses while you can, it is only until the next election
Ex Lib Dem voter”