It's time to move on

Today is day sixteen of the grammar schools row and it's marked by thoughtful articles against the Tory leadership's position from Graham Brady MP (in The Daily Telegraph) and Nadine Dorries MP (in The Independent - currently offline).

Graham and Nadine are two of the most liked members of the parliamentary party.  They cannot be easily dismissed.  One of the things that the leadership needs to do now is make peace, not war, with its critics.  The whips are currently behaving like bulls in a china shop.  They have been particularly antagonistic to the Cornerstone Group.  They do not seem to appreciate that a handful of MPs are close to following Graham Brady's example if they continue to be pushed around.  But it is not just the whips who are misjudging the situation.  Iain Murray left a short but all too accurate comment yesterday - responding to David Cameron's letter to Graham Brady:

"This is not a letter to a colleague. It is a press release, and a pretty poorly drafted one at that."

The letter added insult to the injury of the spinning against Mr Brady. 

But enough has now been said about grammar schools policy and the mishandling of the aftermath of its announcement. We decided to wind down our coverage of the story a couple of times already but the debate kept rolling on, so unless there is really major development it is not ConservativeHome's intention to post again on this subject for some time.  Later today we'll be uploading the May survey of membership opinion.  We won't be asking about grammar schools.  It is time for all of us to move on.  The leadership's position is very unlikely to change.  George Osborne made that clear yesterday.

David Willetts has repeatedly interacted with this site and he appeared to reassure many readers with his answers to your recent questions.  What we now need to do is focus on the strands of our education policy that unite the party.  I would highlight synthetic phonics at primary schools, enforceable home school contracts, opposition to further closure of special schools, 'grammar streaming', a lifting of restrictions on City Academies and mechanisms for parents and other social entrepreneurs to open new schools.  David Willetts has chosen to be "progressive on access in order to be a traditionalist on discipline and curriculum" (his words).   It is now time for us to welcome a hard-headed approach to discipline and curriculum and heal the wounds of the last fortnight.

***
Two years ago ConservativeHome launched its 'Manifesto for a 44% Conservative Party' (PDF here).  We'll be spending most of tomorrow examining the extent to which that manifesto is still relevant to the Conservative Party.  We'll also be using the manifesto's five main themes to point the way to the next few stages of this site's development.

Comments

[Matt Wright]

I see that Trad Tory is persisting with his extremist language - now he is accusing people, in what is apparently his own party, of being "an axis of evil". He still hasn't got the guts to use his own name,

Matt

[Traditional Tory]

I see that Trad Tory is persisting with his extremist language

What, you mean like you calling the majority who disagree with you 'headbangers', Matt?

Pots and kettles.

As for not having the 'guts' to post under my own name does that also apply to Cameroons such as 'Scotty' and 'Cardinal Pirelli'?

I prefer not to disclose my identity, but I'll tell you this. I don't make multiple post, I don't make false claims about myself, my association etc, and I am not a CCHQ troll.

I believe that's probably more than can be said about some of the pseudonymous Cameroons.

Care to take a pop at them now?

[Man in a Shed]

If things go quiet on this subject - then it will not go well for Team Cameron who desperately need to backtrack on denying the aspirational classes their desired education for their children. ( If they think that Blair's inner city academies are going to inspire confidence then its time for random drug testing at CCHQ. )

If they don't then the following silence will only be interrupted by the sound of sharpening knives behind them, waiting for their day of weakness.

The last thing Team Cameron should wish for is silence on this subject, until they have made peace with the party they have just betrayed.

David Willetts could save us all by resigning.

[Peter Farrington]

I am not a member of the Conservative Party and have only voted for the Conservative Party once, and it may have been the only time.

Don't get rid of Cameron, but insist on democracy in the Conservative Party. If he carries on as he is then I certainly will not vote Conservative - even though I would like to.

Regain control of the Party from Metro-centralisers, instill a bit of Libertarianism. Stand for excellence of education for all with a variety of provision - including Grammar schools for those with good academic ability, indeed build more Grammar schools so that more or less all who want to take up the opportunity can do so. And make sure that all other schools have the facilities to make the most of all other children's hopes and dreams. My children go to Grammar and Secondary schools and I am very happy with the variety of provision.

As has been stated previously, academic streams DON'T work! Even in my children's very good Secondary School those who excel academically are 'Geeks'.

I am not part of the 'aprirational classes' if that means I want lots of money for myself and my children. In fact I am generally pretty broke. But I do want my children to go to the RIGHT school for their abilities - and while Cameron and Willetts are philosophically against my having that opportunity for my children I will not be voting Conservative.

Don't dump him. But don't let him run your party as Blair has run New Labour or many other disaffected socialists will not be able to vote for you.

[ToMTom]

I am not part of the 'aprirational classes' if that means I want lots of money for myself

I've never assumed it to be about money, more about realising potential - what we used to call The Protestant work Ethic