The Tories must sell their most radical policy: the Gove schools plan

The Spectator’s endorsement of David Cameron started with his ‘free schools’ policy – and we could have ended there. We said that this is, in itself, enough reason to vote Conservative. This week’s Economist has produced one of the best explanations of this policy, and its potential.  This is important because this election campaign shows that, while the public are indeed minded to oust Gordon Brown, they’re not terribly excited by the Tory offering. The Gove schools plan is something which, if properly expressed, cannot fail to capture the imagination.

In my limited experience of persuading people why they should vote, I find the schools policy always works. The Tories, I say, would pay for a new breed of boutique schools which would compete with each other to educate your child. It’s not a theory, it’s been done in Sweden. No more catchment area games. No more 10-year saving plans for private school.