Caught between a rock & a hard place: LibDems

Conservatives have criticised Haringey's Lib-Dem Opposition for defending Haringey's failing secondary schools and opposing Education Secretary Charles Clarke's plans for radical reform to root out failure. Conservatives cite the Education Secretary's focus on neighbouring Lib-Dem controlled Islington  one of 5 failing London boroughs (Islington, Hackney, Lambeth, Southwark and Haringey) singled out by Clarke  as the Lib-Dems' reason for opposing the tough new measures now being proposed.

A Lib-Dem press release dated 13 May claimed: "Haringey is failing because money is tight, schools are overcrowded and staff are overstretched" yet Conservatives point out that Haringey has regularly been in the upper quartile of expenditure per secondary school pupil.

Conservatives say that the Lib-Dem 'Opposition' is being uncharacteristically and hypocritically supportive of Haringey on secondary education because of the poor performance of Lib-Dem controlled Islington and thus are 'caught between a rock & a hard place'.

Said Peter Forrest, Enfield-Haringey GLA candidate:

"Haringey's Lib-Dem 'Opposition' never lose an opportunity to stick the boot in to Labour Haringey. So why are they so uncharacteristically supportive in opposing Charles Clarke's initiative? Could it be that Lib-Dem controlled Islington is also in the 'sin bin' with Haringey?!

The Lib-Dems are caught between a rock & a hard place on this issue. They dare not side with the Education Secretary because Lib-Dem controlled Islington is also in the dock. Instead they have hypocritically sided with Labour-run Haringey and in effect have called for Haringey to be given yet more public money."

ENDS.