Cameron addresses the Eton factor

Throughout the grammar schools debate there has been an underlying suspicion from many that the Eton-educated Tory leader is denying others the kind of elite education that grammar schools traditionally provided poorer parents.  A leader in today's Sunday Telegraph argues that that the idea of a privileged Tory leadership has been reinforced by the last two weeks.  David Cameron, who was questioned by John Humphrys on his Etonian background during Tuesday's Today programme interview, addresses the issue directly in an article for today's Mail on Sunday:

"As a leader, I may be a white, fortysomething old Etonian, but that doesn't constrain what I do.  No previous leader of the Conservatives has done as much, for example, to bust open the selection of Parliamentary candidates to include more women (now over a third) and more black and minority ethnic candidates.  After the next Election, the Conservative parliamentary party will have a far wider and more diverse pool of talent - and quite right too.

As an individual with three children aged five or under, I worry more about finding good state schools than almost anything else.  I want a special school for my son that will meet his particular needs.  I want state schools for the other two where they will be not just happy and safe, but challenged and inspired.

My loathing of experimental teaching methods that failed generations of children, my fear of disruptive children wrecking the education of those who want to get on and learn, my contempt for the 'all must win prizes' mentality - whether in sporting or academic endeavour - is not just political, it's personal."

Mr Cameron also uses his article to list some of the practical policies that the Conservatives will adopt to help raise educational standards.

The Conservative leader is right to say that he has invested a lot of political capital to bring more women and minority candidates into the party (and he is succeeding in doing so) but ConservativeHome remains disappointed that little has been done to address the financial exclusion issues involved in candidate selection.  The average cost of becoming a Tory MP has been calculated by this website at over £40,000 and ConservativeHome has yet to hear of any coordinated proposals to support lower income people in their parliamentary ambitions.  A ConservativeHome page dedicated to this issue can be accessed here.

Comments

[Editor]

Sorry to DVA and one or two others that we're discussing this issue again but I thought an article by David Cameron on the issue of his background merited another ToryDiary. About to have some breakfast now and then I'll post about David Davis' Independent on Sunday article about civil liberties.

[John Reeks]

This post begins with an assertion that many think David Cameron wants to deny people a good education because he went to Eton! How ridiculous is that? But it sets the tone for the whole thing. It's always interesting to see what 'ConservativeHome' thinks, because I thought it was supposed to be the home of the Tory grassroots. It keeps on looking like this website isn't really their home - its more the home of Tim Mongomerie's personal political beliefs, which everyone else can just debate about. This site is more a place for the Editor to engage in a certain kind of campaigning than it is a spokesman for the Tory grassroots.

[Editor]

Where have you been John for the last two weeks? Did you not hear the Today programme interview? David Cameron's Eton education was 50% of the interview!

I do not personally think that his upbringing is particularly fair politics. What David Cameron does now - policywise etc - in extending opportunity is the only issue that matters but others disagree. Nearly every newspaper has spotlighted the number of Etonians on his frontbench and in his inner team.

David Cameron clearly thinks it matters, too, or he wouldn't have written the passage he has today.

[Jennifer Wells]

Could ConservativeHome do a profile of the women and ethnic minority candidates that have been selected?

How many are from public sector and charity sector backgrounds?

How many are still accountants, lawyers, bankers and politicos?

[Paul Oakley]

Speaking as a product of a comprehensive school, I have to say that DC need feel no shame at his good fortune of an Eton education. He is also correct to decry "experimental teaching methods".

Unfortunately, it seems that the Willets proposals for tinkering with the existing system are precisely such an experiment. Grammar schools are tried, tested and work.

[Prentiz]

The problem with DC's background s not really his background - but the sheer amount of those around him who share it. From the shadow cabinet to the A-list there is suspicion of a a bias for people from a certain background. We need to be doing more to demonstrate that Conservatism is not an exclusive club. If we don't, it will be a key avenue for attack come the elections.

[YHN]

Exactly Prentiz. David Cameron did not choose where he went to school, but he did choose his shadow cabinet and advisors.

What percentage of the shadow cabinet is non-white? Does this reflect the national split? No.

What percentage of the shadow cabinet went to state school? Does this reflect the national split? No.

What percentage of the shadow cabinet are women? Does this reflect the national split? No.

So don't try to pull the wool over our eyes Mr Cameron. Where you alone went to school is of consequence, and no fault of yourself, but you alone take responsibility for your shadow cabinet that is stuffed full of white, middle class private schoolers.

[Denis Cooper]

"... experimental teaching methods that failed generations of children" -

Like insisting that all the children in a given area were best taught in the same state secondary school, irrespective of their academic ability and/or aptitude.

That was an experiment, driven by a crackpot socialist ideology and a vindictive desire to destroy the ****ing grammar schools. And over forty years it's proved to be a failed experiment, rarely better than the previous tripartite system and often far worse. So isn't it time to think about how to terminate that experiment and try something else? Preferably NOT selection by wealth, or by race or religion.

[601]

"What percentage of the shadow cabinet is non-white? Does this reflect the national split? No.

What percentage of the shadow cabinet went to state school? Does this reflect the national split? No.

What percentage of the shadow cabinet are women? Does this reflect the national split? No."

YHN it is not his fault the Tory party was such a useless opposition for 10 years that it was so far from being representative of Britain. It will probably take another 2 GE's.

[malcolm]

Cameron is surely right that his school background should preclude him from having his own view and policy on state education. The personalising of issues practiced by some on this blog and the constant attacks on DC for his background are in my opinion wrong and also counter productive.
It is like saying that one cannot have views on defence issues unless one had been a soldier or talk about crime unless experience of the inside of a prison had been gained!
Having said that I do feel the whole Grammar debate has been badly handled by DC. It is no fun being told by our leader that debate is 'pointless' or that I'm 'delusional' because I happen to strongly believe that an expansion of grammar schools will benefit children, the country and social mobility.

[Richard]

Cameron says that he won't give his children the same privileged education that he had. Is that what a normal Conservative parent would say? I wonder how his children feel about this!

[TomTOm]

I thought he had already found a super little C of E school near his London home, or was that Osborne too ? That this school had such a charm that it was lottery odds of 10.350.000:1 of getting a child admitted.......lucky sperm club and all that

[TomTOm]

Found it !

School

State-run Oxford Gardens Primary is right opposite his house but so popular it has a 400-metre catchment area. It is unclear whether the Camerons would fall within its remit.

[Perdix]

I have to say that it is my perception that the editorials take great pleasure in undermining the leadership of the Tory Party and give a ready platform to the likes of You Hypocrite Noble (occasional member of UKIP).

[John]

Liam Fox writes in the Telegraph today that he strongly agrees with Cameron and Willetts on grammar schools.
Naturally, Melessa Kite doesn't mention it in her article, but I thought it was worth a mention on ConHome.

[Traditional Tory]

No previous leader of the Conservatives has done as much, for example, to bust open the selection of Parliamentary candidates to include more women (now over a third) and more black and minority ethnic candidates.

No previous leader has done so much for the cause of Political Correctness, which is why Cameron is such a thundering disgrace.

As an individual with three children aged five or under, I worry more about finding good state schools than almost anything else.

Does anybody seriously imagine that if Cameron were not a political wanabee with an electorate to smokescreen that this would be a concern of his? Of course not. He has the money and connections to send his children to the most expensive schools in the country, and that is exactly what he would do.

As for John Reeks's tendentious assertion that CH is 'not the voice of the grassroots' I can only agree to this extent.

The leftish views expressed by the noisy Cameroon clique on CH are representative of only a minority faction within the party. Apart from a slavish loyalty to whoever happens to be leading the party at any given time grassroots opinion is almost invariably 'right wing'

Isn't that why the left called us 'The Nasty Party'? Actually, nothing could be more nasty than the left, whether Nulabour or Blulabour.

[Jack Stone]

Why we have come back to this old, old story I don`t know.What school David Cameron went to is a total non-issue. I am getting the impression that the Editor of this site is after the impressive local election results now desperate to find any reason he can to discredite the leader of the party and is becoming like the rowdy schoolboy who throws rubbers at the teacher when his back is turned. Pathetic!

[Traditional Tory]

Jack Stone your remarks are a disgrace. The 'owner' of this site does more for the cause of Conservatism than many Tory MP's

Your own contribution to the Tory cause is totally negative, but that's the intention isn't it?

Care to explain why two longstanding Conservative activists in Southend - where you claim to be a party worker - have never heard of you?

[TomTOm]

Why we have come back to this old, old story I don`t know.

Because Jack Stone education is how parents transmit their values and that of their heritage to their children....and many are simply terrified that they are going to be dispossessed of their national heritage and their children will grow up indoctrinated in political claptrap and alienated from their country's history, literature and be illiterate and innumerate.....unless they have money to buy them an educational privately.

If you cannot understand that this is THE MAJOR issue you must be completely bonkers

[Felicity Mountjoy]

It is important that this site is closed down by Conservative Headquarters. Any advice that the Tory grassroots have for the leadership should be passed to Francis Maude in private. Airing our laundry in public on a blogsite is the modern day equivalent of Michael Foot's early 1980s Labour party.

[Lindsay Jenkins]

Beats me why David Cameron would wish to promote the Fabian agenda of comprehensives and dumbing down to achieve the nonsense of equality of social class so assiudously promoted by Sir Graham Savage of the late but not lamented LCC.

[Denis Cooper]

It is more important that enemies of free expression like "Felicity Mountjoy"
never get their hands anywhere near the levers of power in this country.

[Traditional Tory]

'Felicity' sums up the Cameroon mindset so perfectly it's a shame she's only a (UKIP?) troll.

[Sean Fear]

This site is not controlled by the Conservative Party, FM. It would appear that you regard thinking for oneself as a form of mutiny.

AFAIK, the proportion of people from ethnic minorities on the candidates' list is much the same as in the last Parliament. In any event, it is a very superficial way of looking at increasing opportunities.

[Tim Roll-Pickering]

Why do people think anyone who went to a private school had a say in the matter? For a school like Eton Cameron would probably have been entered on the waiting list whilst he was in the womb. Who at that age is even aware of this, let alone able to protest it?

[TomTom]

Wow ! I don't know who Felicity Mountjoy is but she has certainly blown her cover.....she ought to read David David on Labour's ineffective authoritarianism and return to her handler for new instructions.

We really are facing a concerted effort to enslave people in thought and deed

[Paul Oakley]

Felicity Mountjoy @ 12.10. A nice waspish, satirical post. I hope.

[Jack Stone]

You can comment about the various merits of grammer, comprehensive and private schools all you like but the type of school David Cameron or Tony Blair for that matter attended as nothing to do with there ability to lead the country.
This is just another attempt by the right to discredite David Cameron.

[Denis Cooper]

Lindsay Jenkins @ 12:16 -

"Beats me why David Cameron would wish to promote the Fabian agenda ..."

It is puzzling, but I increasingly get the impression that the overall strategy is based on the old adage: "If you can't beat them, join them".

Not that DC has actually joined the Fabian Society, as far as I know. :-)

In terms of the party political spectrum this does leave a massive gap for those who think of themselves as "progressive right" - or even as "progressive centre".

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

I've really enjoyed reading this thread - so many valid points have been made. Everyone knows that I favour grammar schools - but can we move away from this issue now? I'm getting, like so many other people, a little bored.

I think you should address the wider issue -how members and supporters can effectively channel their views to the Party Leadership.

[simon]

Hold on! DC is doing enough on his own to discredit himself!

[YHN]

"..but can we move away from this issue now? I'm getting, like so many other people, a little bored."

You are clearly not a parent.

What has been resolved? After all the noise, all the angriness, spin and political positioning, underneath we have found that Cameron simply plans to do nothing more than tinker with the existing Labour limits on selection.

With the Cameroons seeking to explain this as taking the Labour policy further (ie offer a marginally wider amount of selection), surely the logical conclusion to such a move is to remove bars to selection entirely.

Until the real modernising policy of completely removing any centrally-imposed limits on selection, combined with a voucher system is introduced, education will remain a political football where the kids are the losers.

In such a situation Justin, parents are not likely to get bored of this subject quite as quickly as yourself.

What is sad is that this policy would please both modernisers and traditionalists and goes to show that the Cameron Project fits into neither of these camps.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

Chad: why don't you do us all a favour and piss off? Sorry, Ed, to use bad language here - but this loon is a prfessional troll who has nothing constructive or positive to say to ConHome readers.

[RodS]

Before this debate finally runs out of steam let's dispose of the canard that 'failing the 11 plus consigned two thirds of children to the scrapheap' Total nonsense.Millions navigated their way through Secondary Moderns/Comprehensives to good Qualifications.Many more joined the ranks of the 'self taught' left school at 15 and slogged their way through day-release and Night School. The 'Teach Yourself' movement is well established.If you can read and write and have the motivation who needs a school. Now with the Internet it is even easier!!

Grammar Schools work - and what works should be replicated - but don't ever overstate the consequences of failing a selection test.

[YHN]

Sorry Justin, what is loon about being a parent, or letting schools control their own admissions?

Why would that deserve insults?

[YHN]

HOMOPHOBIC COMMENTS OVERWRITTEN BY THE EDITOR

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

You homophobic little creep. Now shoe!

[YHN]

Not at all, just highlighting why you find yourself so "bored" of a subject that parents actually care a great deal about.

You started throwing around the insults to what was a sensible post about choice and parental rights.

[Gavin]

So YHN, where do you think gay people come from if not from heterosexual families.....?
And are straight couples with no children not allowed to have a view on Education? What about healthy people, are they not allowed to have a view on the NHS?

[Editor]

Please do not engage with YHN. I have now attempted to ban him and overwritten his hateful and homophobic comment. Please get back to the thread folks...

[YHN]

Hateful? Complete crap.

You let your posters insult someone who simply advocates freeing schools from political interference but do not think Justin lack of personal connection with the subject was not an influence on his 'boredom' with the subject?

Sure I could have put it in a better way, but why should I when you are happy to let your posters call people who disagree with Cameron as loons?

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

Thanks, Ed. Have just been reading about Willetts' idea for schools to select by race. Has this man taken leave of his senses? What would happen in Tottenham, my patch, where most kids are from the BME communities? Would schools be forced to bus white kids in from Enfield to meet his targets? No doubt Willetts will beat Francis Maude and Theresa May on ConHome's least favourite/effective shadow cabinet member in the next poll...

[YHN]

Your agenda is to obvious Tim. People can read back through this thread and then see Justim just jump in an insult me.

You do have a habit of "letting the dogs" on to me and break your own "don't attack the person rule".

[YHN]

Your agenda is too obvious Tim. People can read back through this thread and then see Justin just jump in an insult me.

Did you act? Of course not.

You do have a habit of "letting the dogs" on to me and break your own "don't attack the person rule".

[Graeme Archer]

YHN writes Why do Tories like yourself who spend your time taking up the arse think you knpow what is best for how heterosexuals raise their families?

This is exactly the sort of comment which achieves the following:

(*) makes a fool of the argument in the actual thread; one reads down the list, thinking 'oh yes', 'I see', 'ah, don't agree with that' and then one comes to this, and one concludes 'any argumentative position which contains people like YHN is the opposite of where I shall be'.

(*) should give the decent unCameroons cause before posting or at least take care with their language. I don't know how to put this, but there's a reason why our brand preDC was toxic to normal people, and it's completely summed up by YHN's post. Here's the test: if you think there's a warped kind of internal logic to YHN's posting, then you are part of the problem, and the changes will, rightly, leave you behind. Do permit yourself to get wound up in impotent rage, YHN

(*) there really, really ought to be comment moderation on this website. It belongs to the Editor who should run it as he wishes, of course, but I wonder who is helped -- other than people like me, who have their prejudices about the forces of reaction confirmed -- in our party by allowing excrement like YHN's post to be rubbed all over the words "Conservative Home"? I am a Conservative, and I am At Home, and something like YHN would not get house room.

[Chris]

Justin,
I'm not liking the sound of it either, but I'm reserving judgement until I actually read a Conservative party document on it, not some news story which is being spun to attack Cameron.

If it was simply optional selection, which schools could opt into then I might be able to get behind it. Forced centralised targets as you say would be a terrible idea, especially from a logistics stand point.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

The funny thing is that I'm a huge fan of grammar schools, yet I was still attacked by him...

[James Strachan]

Having read through this discussion, I hope to God that none of the voters that I am trying hard to attract are aware of this web site.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

Cameron's speech today (see above) was hugely encouraging to read and I was feeling pretty positive about things - until I read what Willets article. There may indeed be some merit, which I doubt,about the suggestion but the argument is too academic and gets lost on normal people. We have to use language which the public can understand - not highly intellectual language which can be easily twisted and frowned upon by the media. Am I making any sense?

[Editor]

There is comment moderation on the site, Graeme, where we are discussing individual candidates - the Seats and Candidates and LondonMayor blogs, for example. We also have moderation on CF Diary because of the excitable history of student politics! I'm reluctant to introduce further moderation but will do so if things deteriorate. The best thing to do when nasty folk appear is to email me and Sam about their posts and then ignore them. We'll delete, overwrite and attempt to ban.