Response to Tristram Hunt speech on private schools

Felicity Dowling of Left Unity said:”This is weak posturing from private schoolboy Hunt.

“He is right that private schools get a £700 million a year subsidy – but why should they be allowed to keep any of it? It should be taken away entirely.

“Private schools are divisive institutions, creating elitism and privilege. They are not charities and should not have charitable status.

“Every child is important and deserves a quality education. We believe all education should be publicly owned and democratically run, no longer be dependent on money, class or influence.”

For interviews and more information contact press@leftunity.org

Notes for editors

1. Left Unity is the new party of the left in Britain. Founded in November 2013, it has around 2,000 members and 50 branches across the country.


2 comments

2 responses to “Response to Tristram Hunt speech on private schools”

  1. Ray G says:

    Erm — our policy is to remove charitable status – not to abolish private education, unless I was at a different conference.

    • tomwalker says:

      Hi Ray –

      The press release does say they should not have charitable status.

      It’s true that Lambeth’s amendment to point 6 (directly on private schools) was remitted. However the end of this press release is based on the following part of the policy:

      “We believe in the principle of a public, universal, transparent and locally accountable system of education, in which all young people are equally valued, regardless of social background or supposed potential. Education should no longer be dependent on money, class or influence and every family must have access to high-quality neighborhood schools.”

      See http://leftunity.org/education-policy/

      Tom


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