By Jonathan Isaby
Last night saw a packed Friends of Grammar Schools reception at the House of Commons hosted by Graham Brady MP and also addressed by Education Secretary Michael Gove.
Dozens of MPs, teachers and governors were in attendance, including Katharine Birbalsingh, the teacher who was forced out of her job after speaking out at the recent Conservative Party conference (and according to today's Guardian she is considering starting a free school).
Speaking at the gathering, Graham Brady applauded the Government for pushing ahead with free schools and more academies but asked Mr Gove to go further and facilitate the expansion of selective education where parents want it.
Mr Gove said that many were criticising him for going too far and too fast in his reforms, rather than not far enough. Responding to Graham Brady's request, he joked:
"My foot is hovering over the pedal; I'll have to see what my co-driver Nick Clegg has to say".
Below are a few pictures from the event, with other parliamentarians I noted in attendance including: Nigel Adams, David Amess, Lord Ashcroft, Steve Baker, Guto Bebb, Brian Binley, Bob Blackman, Nick Boles, Angie Bray, Conor Burns, David Burrowes, Douglas Carswell, Rehman Chishti, Chris Chope, Greg Clark, Damian Collins, Tracey Crouch, Philip Davies, Nigel Evans, David Evenett, Michael Fallon, Frank Field, Mark Field, Mark Garnier, John Glen, Richard Graham, Helen Grant, Sam Gyimah, Stephen Hammond, John Hayes, Damian Hinds, Kate Hoey, Stewart Jackson, Bernard Jenkin, Gareth Johnson, Chris Kelly, Simon Kirby, Greg Knight, Pauline Latham, Jessica Lee, Philip Lee, Jack Lopresti, Esther McVey, Eric Ollerenshaw, Neil Parish, Priti Patel, Owen Paterson, Mark Pawsey, Andrew Percy, Laura Sandys, Mark Simmonds, Chris Skidmore, Julian Smith, Graham Stuart, Andrew Turner, Martin Vickers, John Whittingdale, Rob Wilson and Nadhim Zahawi.