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David Ward MP <>
Liberal Democrat Conference votes with David Ward to oppose Academies Bill
September 20, 2010 4:11 PM
David Ward speaking out on the Academies Bill at Lib Dem Conference
David Ward has attacked Michael Gove's academies programme in a speech at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Liverpool.
His position today received the overwhelming support of conference delegates in a major vote on Academies.
The changes introduced by the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, allow schools to become independent from local authority control by applying for academy status. They will also see groups of parents and faith groups setting up and running their own schools.
David Ward, who has been a long time campaigner on educational issues and has served as a school governor in Bradford for over twenty years, defied his party by voting against the proposals in the Commons in July.
Commenting, David Ward said:
"I am delighted that conference has given Liberal Democrats the support they need to campaign against academies and free schools at a local level.
"I am very concerned about the impact that Michael Gove's academies will have in Bradford. Any increase in selection that makes the community more divided would be a disastrous step backwards.
"At a time when the country is so short of money I find it unbelievable that fifty million pounds of extra funding has been found this year to set up new Academies and that funding for academies will be made a priority in future years. Meanwhile good existing schools have had their building programmes scrapped including six in my constituency.
"The initial response from schools in Bradford seems to indicate a lack of enthusiasm for these proposals. I will be watching what this Government does on education very carefully over the coming months and years."