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| Kelly school choice in spotlight | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A friend of ex-Education Secretary Ruth Kelly said she sent one of her children to a private school "with the full co-operation of her local council". | |
| Mrs Kelly, whose three other children are in state schools, has sent the child to a £15,000-a-year school for pupils with learning difficulties. | |
| She reportedly removed her child from a state school after deciding it would not cater adequately with their needs. | |
| A friend told the BBC the decision was taken in consultation with the council. | |
| The issue of using private education has long been a controversial area in the Labour Party. | |
| We should let people make private decisions as parents David CameronConservative leader | |
| Current Education Secretary Alan Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he did not know enough about the case to comment in detail on it. | |
| But he said: "At the heart of this there's a child with educational needs... so it's a very much a personal decision based on a whole set of complex areas." | |
| 'Incumbent' | |
| And Labour MP Barry Sheerman, chairman of the Commons education select committee, said: "Before we start a witch-hunt about a particular Cabinet minister, let us find out what the circumstances are and let's then duly consider that. | |
| "The state system at its best should be able to provide for every kind of special education need - but at the moment in some parts of the country that's not true." | |
| London's schools commissioner Tim Brighouse told the same programme that if a local education authority could not provide adequate provision for a child with special needs it could pay to send them private. | |
| However, he said that he thought it "incumbent" on those in the state education sector "to set a personal example". | |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mrs Kelly's friend said that although the decision was taken with the "full co-operation" of the local authority she had not wanted the local education authority to pay the private school fees. | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron, whose son attends a state special needs school, said parental concerns always came first and should be made privately. | |
| 'Totally understand' | |
| "We all have to make the decisions as parents first, not as politicians. Ruth Kelly is a parent first and foremost. | |
| "My son is at a state special school, but I totally understand that sometimes things can go wrong and you have got to make the right decision for yourself as a parent." | |
| He added: "Some people will say it's hypocritical - it would be hypocritical if they were in favour of abolishing private education, but Labour I don't think are in favour of abolishing private education - so I think we should let people make private decisions as parents." | |
| Mrs Kelly, 38, was born in Limavady, Northern Ireland, attended Sutton High School and the private Westminster School. | |
| She went on to study politics, philosophy and economics at Queen's College, Oxford, followed by an MSc in economics at the London School of Economics. | She went on to study politics, philosophy and economics at Queen's College, Oxford, followed by an MSc in economics at the London School of Economics. |
| She married Derek Gadd, a local government officer, in 1996. Ms Kelly holds a record by giving birth to four children since becoming an MP in 1997. | She married Derek Gadd, a local government officer, in 1996. Ms Kelly holds a record by giving birth to four children since becoming an MP in 1997. |