LABOUR PEERS INTO THE ABYSS:

Blair: My high-wire act over school reforms (George Jones and Toby Helm, 24/01/2006, Daily Telegraph)

Tony Blair staked his future on the Government's education policy yesterday by warning rebel Labour MPs that he was ready to make the reforms an issue of confidence in his leadership.

The Prime Minister admitted that he was engaged in a "high-wire act" as he battled to persuade his party - including John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister - to support plans for the introduction of trust schools with greater independence.

He told his first monthly press conference of the year that the schools legislation was "fundamental" to his government and did not rule out relying on support from Conservative MPs to get it through the Commons. [...]

David Willetts, the Conservative education spokesman, welcomed Mr Blair's apparent readiness to face down the Labour rebels.

"If he really does stand up for more freedom for schools we will stand should to shoulder with him," Mr Willetts said.

They are after all his rightful party.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 23, 2006 9:26 PM