Confidence in schools ‘falling’
A new poll published today has found that over the past three months the Labour Party has lost its reputation with voters for improving schools and education.
The survey carried out by ICM for the Guardian found that the recent schools’ funding crisis and the row over tuition fees have caused a sudden loss of confidence in the Government’s record on education.
In March the same newspaper’s annual public services survey showed that education was the only area where voters said they could see real improvements. This has changed dramatically over the past 3 months.
The survey also showed a downturn in voter’s opinion on the government’s record on public services generally over the same period.
However the loss of confidence was mostly concentrated among Conservative and Liberal Democrat voters; Labour voters still see an improvement in schools with 39% saying they are getting better and only 16% saying they are getting worse.
The survey asked 1,001 adults aged over 18 and was conducted across the country.
Commenting on the findings, Phil Willis MP, Liberal Democrat chief education spokesman, said that the Labour government was paying the price for what he claimed to be its “arrogant centralist approach” to schools and universities.
