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Tory quits post over grammars row Tory quits post over grammars row
(10 minutes later)
Graham Brady has resigned from David Cameron's front bench team after the Conservative row over grammar schools.Graham Brady has resigned from David Cameron's front bench team after the Conservative row over grammar schools.
The shadow Europe minister spoke out in defence of grammar schools after the party said that selection by ability did not help social mobility.The shadow Europe minister spoke out in defence of grammar schools after the party said that selection by ability did not help social mobility.
He was "severely reprimanded" by the Conservative Party's chief whip and told to stick to his Europe brief.He was "severely reprimanded" by the Conservative Party's chief whip and told to stick to his Europe brief.
But Mr Brady, 40, said "in conscience" he had no option but to resign so he could do what was "right".But Mr Brady, 40, said "in conscience" he had no option but to resign so he could do what was "right".
"Faced with a choice between a front bench position that I have loved and doing what I believe to be right for my constituents and for the many hundreds of thousands of families who are ill-served by state education in this country, there is in conscience only one option open to me," he said."Faced with a choice between a front bench position that I have loved and doing what I believe to be right for my constituents and for the many hundreds of thousands of families who are ill-served by state education in this country, there is in conscience only one option open to me," he said.
I'm jumping because I need to be free to speak my mind, because I need to be free to speak up for the interests of my constituents Graham BradyConservative MP Q&A: Grammar Schools I'm jumping because I need to be free to speak my mind, because I need to be free to speak up for the interests of my constituents Graham BradyConservative MP href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6701929.stm">Profile: Graham Brady class="" href="/1/hi/education/6660823.stm">Q&A: Grammar Schools
He said it was a difficult decision to quit the front bench, but he objected to the argument, put forward by shadow education secretary David Willetts, that grammar schools and selection impeded social mobility.He said it was a difficult decision to quit the front bench, but he objected to the argument, put forward by shadow education secretary David Willetts, that grammar schools and selection impeded social mobility.
"I think it's the opposite of the truth. Grammar schools in selective areas are exactly the motor that does drive social mobility more effectively than comprehensive areas.""I think it's the opposite of the truth. Grammar schools in selective areas are exactly the motor that does drive social mobility more effectively than comprehensive areas."
He praised the results from schools in his constituency of Altrincham & Sale West.He praised the results from schools in his constituency of Altrincham & Sale West.
"And that's delivered by a wholly selective education system - it's one that educated me and it's something I've been fighting for for all of my life and something I've campaigned consistently for for 10 years in Parliament."And that's delivered by a wholly selective education system - it's one that educated me and it's something I've been fighting for for all of my life and something I've campaigned consistently for for 10 years in Parliament.
"Over the last couple of weeks, very sadly I've come to the conclusion that if I'm going to be free to continue to speak out in favour of selective education and grammar schools then I have to leave the front bench so that I'm not bound by collective responsibility," he said on BBC News 24."Over the last couple of weeks, very sadly I've come to the conclusion that if I'm going to be free to continue to speak out in favour of selective education and grammar schools then I have to leave the front bench so that I'm not bound by collective responsibility," he said on BBC News 24.
He dismissed suggestions that he was leaving the front bench before he was forced to go in an expected reshuffle this summer.He dismissed suggestions that he was leaving the front bench before he was forced to go in an expected reshuffle this summer.
Academy supportAcademy support
"I'm jumping because I need to be free to speak my mind, because I need to be free to speak up for the interests of my constituents, and to put forward a deeply held view about a way in which we might improve the quality of state education for pupils all across the country," he said."I'm jumping because I need to be free to speak my mind, because I need to be free to speak up for the interests of my constituents, and to put forward a deeply held view about a way in which we might improve the quality of state education for pupils all across the country," he said.
Mr Brady's reprimand came after he supplied data to the Times which indicated that in areas with no selective education fewer pupils get five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and maths.Mr Brady's reprimand came after he supplied data to the Times which indicated that in areas with no selective education fewer pupils get five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and maths.
That came as the row over the party's rejection of schools selecting by ability had appeared to be dying down.That came as the row over the party's rejection of schools selecting by ability had appeared to be dying down.
Mr Cameron has promised more city academies - the privately sponsored state schools championed by Prime Minister Tony Blair - and more streaming and setting within existing schools.Mr Cameron has promised more city academies - the privately sponsored state schools championed by Prime Minister Tony Blair - and more streaming and setting within existing schools.
He has said existing grammar schools would not be axed, but said anyone who thought there might be more grammar schools created were "delusional".He has said existing grammar schools would not be axed, but said anyone who thought there might be more grammar schools created were "delusional".