WHO CAN BE THE MOST THATCHERITE?:

A framework for fairness: Labour must make clear that they, not the Tories, are the genuine party for equality in education (Melissa Benn, 3/02/09, The Guardian)

On the surface at least, the Tory plans are bold: a razzmatazz mix of social justice pledges furthered by market means, all leavened with a large dose of old-style learning: blazers, ties, firm discipline and a traditional curriculum. And Swedish-style plans to deliver up to 200,000 new places in a raft of completely new schools. Going one step further than New Labour's academies, these would be privately run, independent of local authority control, but paid for by the taxpayer. Funds would follow individual pupils, with extra money for the most disadvantaged.