Predictably, Theresa May’s speech on new grammar schools and expanding selection across the education system has attracted some strong criticism from within her own party, particularly from former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan. The controversial nature of the reforms announced today – and let’s not forget the proposal to lift the cap on the proportion of pupils that faith schools can admit from their own religion, which will cause a Commons row for a number of reasons – means the Tory whips are going to be very busy indeed over the next few months.
Education reform is a personal priority of Nick Timothy, May’s chief of staff, which means that the plans announced in the Prime Minister’s speech today cannot just be there for a show that says ‘I’m not David Cameron’. But if the grammar plans do fail in Parliament, some wonder whether this might be the perfect catalyst for an early election.
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