Labour blackmail Sheffield over two school solution

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th Jul 2008

(l-r) Cllr Scriven, Cllr Taylor, Cllr Sangar and Cllr Ayris boarding the train to London.

The Labour Minister for Schools has issued a threat to Sheffield over the move to overturn the merger of Wisewood and Myers Grove Schools in favour of a two school solution. Today the Minister for Schools, Jim Knight MP, refused to rule out Sheffield losing millions of investment for other Sheffield schools if the Council went ahead with the two school solution. The move came despite a commitment from the Council to fund the extra £25m needed to deliver two schools.

The delegation, which included the leader of Council, the Cabinet member and local Hillsborough Councillors, outlined the preferred solution for local people. They highlighted the way people voted at the last local elections and raised questions that one new school may not be able to cope with the predicted increase in pupil numbers in the future.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Liberal Democrat Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: "I find it totally unacceptable that the Government is blackmailing us in this way. We have come up with an alternative option that would be funded by the Council, yet we have been threatened with funding for other schools being withdrawn if we go ahead. I suspect that this is the work of local Labour MPs who have clearly been working behind the scenes."

Cllr Joe Taylor, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hillsborough, said: "I'm angry and disappointed that the Minister has chosen not to listen, despite us outlining an alternative two school solution which has clear support from local people and takes into account the true pupil numbers picture. This issue is turning into local people versus the bureaucrats, and I'm firmly backing local people."

The news comes after the local Labour Party, including all five Sheffield Labour MPs, expressed their opposition to the two school solution. The Liberal Democrat leadership on the Council will now consider their options.

Lib Dems still plan to meet with the proposing group for the merged school in order to ask them to revoke their plans and back the two school solution. The proposing group could refuse and take the battle to the courts which would provide another problem in delivering a two school solution.

Cllr Andrew Sangar, Liberal Democrat Cabinet member for Children's Services and Lifelong Learning, said: -

"Clearly we will now have to talk to the local communities involved and consider our options in light of this development which changes the picture. We have to recognise that there are some significant hurdles to overcome, most of which are being put up by the Labour Party."

"One of these hurdles is the proposing group who could provide a lengthily legal block . We will be seeking an official response from the group and I hope they choose to back local peoples preferred option."