Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

City Academies and Super Casinos, RIP

Putting City Academies under the care of local authorities is like putting chickens in the care of wolves – as Mr Brown knows very well. So it’s goodbye to Mr Blair’s market reforms, although the Prime Minister has subcontracted the wielding of the knife. Witness his twin strategy: he keeps Lord Adonis, joint architect of the scheme, in place. But he robs him of the control he needs. Remember, Adonis was literally in the High Court fighting local authorities who resent any threat to their power base. How much progress will City Academies make now that local authorities have control? But on a day when Brown has effectively abolished Blair’s wretched super casinos in a throwaway line in parliament, who’s going to care?
 
The Tories may lose the headline battle today, but this all adds up to a gift for David Cameron. If he plays his cards right, he can say there’s only one way to get school reform in England now: vote Conservative.

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