Pure Balls

Ed Balls isn’t quite sure how to attack the Tory ‘Swedish schools’ policy. But a story in today’s Observer about a Tory councillor sounding off about it gives him a chance to try. The words issued are from Jim Knight, but I put them below and by thoughts interspersed.

“Once they know the truth about David Cameron’s risky and divisive plan to import the Swedish schools…”

Risky? The Tories would allow charities, church groups etc to set up schools if they have enough support from parents. But Balls* is right to see community-driven initiatives as a risk – a risk to the bureaucracies serving British pupils and taxpayers so badly.

And “divisive”? Ahh, this is socialist-talk for “choice”. Remember, Brown also said that a leadership election would be “divisive”. Yes, when poor people have the same choice as the rich do now schools will have to compete for their custom.