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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Theresa May raises school extremism questions | Theresa May raises school extremism questions |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Concerns about the Department for Education's handling of allegations of extremism in Birmingham schools have been raised by Theresa May. | Concerns about the Department for Education's handling of allegations of extremism in Birmingham schools have been raised by Theresa May. |
| The Home Secretary has asked Michael Gove about claims his department was aware of allegations in 2010 and Birmingham Council two years earlier. | The Home Secretary has asked Michael Gove about claims his department was aware of allegations in 2010 and Birmingham Council two years earlier. |
| But Education Secretary Mr Gove believes the Home Office is not doing enough on extremism, a report said. | But Education Secretary Mr Gove believes the Home Office is not doing enough on extremism, a report said. |
| Mr Gove and Mrs May have pledged that they are working together on the issue. | Mr Gove and Mrs May have pledged that they are working together on the issue. |
| 'Someone else's problem' | 'Someone else's problem' |
| In a letter, Mrs May said: "The allegations relating to schools in Birmingham raise serious questions about the quality of school governance and oversight arrangements." | In a letter, Mrs May said: "The allegations relating to schools in Birmingham raise serious questions about the quality of school governance and oversight arrangements." |
| She added: "Is it true that Birmingham City Council was warned about these allegations in 2008? Is it true that the Department for Education was warned in 2010? If so, why did nobody act?" | She added: "Is it true that Birmingham City Council was warned about these allegations in 2008? Is it true that the Department for Education was warned in 2010? If so, why did nobody act?" |
| Mr Gove believes there has been a plot by extremist Muslims to take over schools in Birmingham, according to The Times. | Mr Gove believes there has been a plot by extremist Muslims to take over schools in Birmingham, according to The Times. |
| He thinks there is reluctance to tackle the issue in government departments, especially Home Office. | He thinks there is reluctance to tackle the issue in government departments, especially Home Office. |
| But a Home Office source told the BBC "he was trying to make it someone else's problem". | But a Home Office source told the BBC "he was trying to make it someone else's problem". |
| Those around Mr Gove pointed out it was his view that for over a generation there had been a reluctance in Whitehall to confront extremism unless it developed into terrorism - and his criticism did not relate specifically to the current home secretary. | Those around Mr Gove pointed out it was his view that for over a generation there had been a reluctance in Whitehall to confront extremism unless it developed into terrorism - and his criticism did not relate specifically to the current home secretary. |
| But a Home Office source was blunt, telling the BBC: "The Department for Education is responsible for schools, the Home Office is not." | But a Home Office source was blunt, telling the BBC: "The Department for Education is responsible for schools, the Home Office is not." |
| "They have got a problem and they are trying to make it someone else's problem," the source added. | "They have got a problem and they are trying to make it someone else's problem," the source added. |
| A source close to Mr Gove said the education secretary thought "Theresa May was an excellent home secretary". | A source close to Mr Gove said the education secretary thought "Theresa May was an excellent home secretary". |
| The BBC's political editor, Nick Robinson, said the row amounted to "an old-fashioned Whitehall turf war", with two senior ministers differing over how to combat Islamic extremism. | |
| "I understand that Michael Gove and Theresa May clashed at a recent meeting of what's called the Extremism Task Force - a committee of cabinet ministers set up by David Cameron. | |
| "They argued about how to define extremism. Mr Gove has long argued that Whitehall is too soft on extremism; that it only confronts people once they've turned to violence; that you should 'drain the swamp' and not wait for 'the crocodiles to reach the boat'. | |
| "At the meeting he argued for a broader definition. Mrs May, for a narrower one. She won." | |
| United front | |
| Nevertheless, the pair have insisted they are united. | |
| In a statement, they said: "The Department for Education and the Home Office take the problems in Birmingham schools and all issues relating to extremism very seriously. | In a statement, they said: "The Department for Education and the Home Office take the problems in Birmingham schools and all issues relating to extremism very seriously. |
| "Michael Gove and Theresa May are working together to ensure we get to the bottom of what has happened in Birmingham and take the necessary steps to fix it." | "Michael Gove and Theresa May are working together to ensure we get to the bottom of what has happened in Birmingham and take the necessary steps to fix it." |
| A government spokesman added: "There is no difference between the education secretary and the home secretary who are both working energetically together to tackle the challenge posed by any form of extremism." | |
| But Tristram Hunt, Labour's Shadow Education Secretary, said now was not the time for a Whitehall turf war. | |
| "Michael Gove has failed to act on the early warning signs to prevent the sort of situation we are seeing in schools in Birmingham. | |
| "But by refusing to act, Michael Gove is paving the way for more fragile schools to run into trouble." | |
| Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "For two such senior ministers to launch a vitriolic public blame game in this way is appalling and irresponsible when they should be working together to sort out such serious problems. | |
| "Preventing extremism is immensely important - in communities and in schools. The truth is that Michael Gove's reforms have made it easier, not harder, for schools to be run inappropriately. | |
| "This is bad government and David Cameron should sort it out." | |
| Report findings | Report findings |
| Three of the Birmingham schools inspected in the wake of the so-called Trojan Horse allegations have published the findings of their Ofsted reports. | Three of the Birmingham schools inspected in the wake of the so-called Trojan Horse allegations have published the findings of their Ofsted reports. |
| They are rated "outstanding" or "good", although one urges governors to prepare students for "multicultural Britain". | They are rated "outstanding" or "good", although one urges governors to prepare students for "multicultural Britain". |
| The inspection of 21 schools in Birmingham was a response to claims of a takeover strategy by a hardline Muslim group. | The inspection of 21 schools in Birmingham was a response to claims of a takeover strategy by a hardline Muslim group. |
| Although there have been plans for all the inspection findings to be published together, this has been pre-empted by repeated reports that five or more of the schools have been found inadequate. | Although there have been plans for all the inspection findings to be published together, this has been pre-empted by repeated reports that five or more of the schools have been found inadequate. |
| Individual schools, with positive outcomes, have also begun to publish their own report findings. | Individual schools, with positive outcomes, have also begun to publish their own report findings. |
| These include Ninestiles School - an academy in Acocks Green - Small Heath School, and Washwood Heath Academy. | These include Ninestiles School - an academy in Acocks Green - Small Heath School, and Washwood Heath Academy. |
| A spokeswoman for the Department for Education spokeswoman said it investigating all evidence put to it in conjunction with Ofsted, Birmingham City Council and the police. | |