Estelle Morris is getting a good press as the new Education Secretary. As someone who has campaigned to keep education public-run and accountable in Haringey, north London, I have a rather different view.
As schools minister in the last government, Ms Morris pressed ahead with plans to privatise our local education authority. Ultimately, a broadly-based local campaign frced her to retreat somewhat. Yet much valuable time was wasted, when the undoubted problems of education in the borough were not addressed at all.
One hopes that as Education Secretary, Ms Morris will listen more to people involved in education in local areas and less to civil servants with a privatisation agenda.
Keith Flett, Tottenham, London
