Letwin apologises for begging gaffe
Conservative home affairs spokesman Oliver Letwin MP has apologised to his local comprehensive school in London for saying he would rather “beg” than send his ten-year-old twins, Jeremy and Laura, there.
Mr Letwin said he was sorry to Lilian Baylis School near his home in Kennington, south London.
Although Mr Letwin did not name the school specifically at a fringe meeting at the Tory party’s conference in Blackpool last week, local educationalists quickly picked up that he was referring to the school where only six per cent of GCSE pupils got five or more passes at grade C and above in 2002.
He told the fringe meeting: “In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school.
“If necessary, I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school where I live.”
Eton-educated Mr Letwin told Sky’s Sunday with Adam Boulton: “I regret that a particular school was identified by the London press.
“I have written to apologise to them because I would not want to cause any offence I did think it caused them.
“But I have to say that I am still – and the whole Conservative Party is still – passionate about Damian Green’s policy, which is what I was explaining, for better school passports.
“What that does is to give parents choice, which at the moment is available only to those of us lucky enough to have money.”
Phil Willis MP, Liberal Democrat education spokesman, said Mr Letwin made a “disgraceful slur” on the comprehensive school, adding he revealed the Tories’ true colours.
“They remain out of touch and determined to look after the privileged few.
“I hope that Oliver Letwin spends some time visiting a number of London’s excellent comprehensives before apologising for his ignorant remarks.”
