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Free school meals row: Clegg attacks 'peculiar former Conservative advisers' Free school meals row: Clegg attacks 'peculiar former Conservative advisers'
(about 1 hour later)
Nick Clegg blamed "a few rather peculiar former Conservative advisers" for waging a running battle against his flagship plans for universal free school meals – as the education secretary, Michael Gove, was ordered to seal a truce over the issue.Nick Clegg blamed "a few rather peculiar former Conservative advisers" for waging a running battle against his flagship plans for universal free school meals – as the education secretary, Michael Gove, was ordered to seal a truce over the issue.
In a joint article in the Times written with the Liberal Democrat schools minister, David Laws, Gove said there was cross-party unity on the proposal. Clegg did not deny that he ordered the joint article to be written.In a joint article in the Times written with the Liberal Democrat schools minister, David Laws, Gove said there was cross-party unity on the proposal. Clegg did not deny that he ordered the joint article to be written.
The deputy prime minister has been dogged by repeated criticism over the lack of planning, funding and preparation of the proposal – mainly by Dominic Cummings, Gove's combative former special adviser, but also by some headteachers. Cummings has denounced the plan as a gimmick typical of Whitehall and said it had been drawn up "on the back of a fag packet".The deputy prime minister has been dogged by repeated criticism over the lack of planning, funding and preparation of the proposal – mainly by Dominic Cummings, Gove's combative former special adviser, but also by some headteachers. Cummings has denounced the plan as a gimmick typical of Whitehall and said it had been drawn up "on the back of a fag packet".
He has also called for Clegg to lose his chairmanship of the cabinet home affairs committee, claiming he is misusing the position to promote his own personal position. He has also called for Clegg to lose his chairmanship of the cabinet home affairs committee, claiming he was misusing the position to promote his own personal position.
Exasperated by the row leading to further leaks of Whitehall correspondence last week over knife crime, Clegg this week demanded Cameron rein in Gove, prompting the joint article in the Times.Exasperated by the row leading to further leaks of Whitehall correspondence last week over knife crime, Clegg this week demanded Cameron rein in Gove, prompting the joint article in the Times.
The extent to which Cummings operates as a free agent or with the approval of Gove has always been unclear. Cummings no longer works for Gove or the government, so is capable of continuing his attacks on Clegg using his past knowledge of Whitehall disputes.The extent to which Cummings operates as a free agent or with the approval of Gove has always been unclear. Cummings no longer works for Gove or the government, so is capable of continuing his attacks on Clegg using his past knowledge of Whitehall disputes.
The row has dogged Clegg during the European election campaign with some polls showing the Lib Dems fifth behind the Green party.The row has dogged Clegg during the European election campaign with some polls showing the Lib Dems fifth behind the Green party.
In a string of broadcast interviews Clegg said the free school meals policy would go ahead. "It's going to happen, it's properly budgeted, it will happen," he said.In a string of broadcast interviews Clegg said the free school meals policy would go ahead. "It's going to happen, it's properly budgeted, it will happen," he said.
"If you really want to know about all this argy-bargy in Whitehall – which I don't think is of much interest to the parents, and the teachers, and the children who are actually going to benefit in September – but there's a few rather peculiar Conservatives and former Conservative advisers who don't like this policy and seem to be spending a lot of time trying to discredit it. I think it's a pity, because frankly their views are irrelevant. "If you really want to know about all this argy-bargy in Whitehall – which I don't think is of much interest to the parents and the teachers, and the children who are actually going to benefit in September – but there's a few rather peculiar Conservatives and former Conservative advisers who don't like this policy and seem to be spending a lot of time trying to discredit it. I think it's a pity, because frankly their views are irrelevant.
"You have this from time to time in politics, you have people who aren't elected to anything, don't have any authority of their own, and when they get a backroom adviser's job it all slightly goes to their head," he told ITV's Good Morning Britain."You have this from time to time in politics, you have people who aren't elected to anything, don't have any authority of their own, and when they get a backroom adviser's job it all slightly goes to their head," he told ITV's Good Morning Britain.
He said Cummings was "flatly wrong" on every detail of the announcement.He said Cummings was "flatly wrong" on every detail of the announcement.
Clegg pointed to the Times article saying Gove and Laws "have come out publicly just to quell any noises off and say: 'Look this is going to happen, it is properly funded.'Clegg pointed to the Times article saying Gove and Laws "have come out publicly just to quell any noises off and say: 'Look this is going to happen, it is properly funded.'
"And I'll tell you what, it's going to be a really, really important boost to families up and down the country who are paying £400 a year to pay for school lunches. It's been shown – because we've tested this over many years – to have a dramatic effect on kids' ability to concentrate in class in the afternoon, it's got a very good effect as well of having children mix together at lunchtime.""And I'll tell you what, it's going to be a really, really important boost to families up and down the country who are paying £400 a year to pay for school lunches. It's been shown – because we've tested this over many years – to have a dramatic effect on kids' ability to concentrate in class in the afternoon, it's got a very good effect as well of having children mix together at lunchtime."
Some schools have complained they have not been allocated the necessary capital funds to upgrade their kitchens in preparation of the introduction of the policy in September, and were not given any warning that they would need to find extra money from their budget.Some schools have complained they have not been allocated the necessary capital funds to upgrade their kitchens in preparation of the introduction of the policy in September, and were not given any warning that they would need to find extra money from their budget.
Clegg insisted the plan had been piloted in Durham and Newham, and the nationwide scheme was not being introduced any faster than in the pilot regions. He said the government had set aside money on top of £1.4bn to maintain schools generally.Clegg insisted the plan had been piloted in Durham and Newham, and the nationwide scheme was not being introduced any faster than in the pilot regions. He said the government had set aside money on top of £1.4bn to maintain schools generally.
"We think the resources are there. The detail is now in the discussion between the individual schools and the local authorities.""We think the resources are there. The detail is now in the discussion between the individual schools and the local authorities."