Going private is OK say all three schools spokesmen

ALL three of the main parties’ education spokesmen revealed they would have no problem with the next education secretary sending their children to private school.

The BBC’s Daily Politics presenter Andrew Neil asked the trio if such a choice would be ‘acceptable for an education secretary’.

Labour’s Tristram Hunt, who was privately educated, said: ‘Yes. In certain circumstances.’ Two of his three children go to a state primary school in North London, with the third expected to go to the same school. But he has not ruled out switching them to independent schools.

Privately educated Schools Minister David Laws – who has no children – immediately said ‘yes’ to the question. And Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, who was privately educated but sends her son to a state primary school, replied: ‘Yes, you do what’s right for the child.’

Ukip’s Jonathan Arnott and the Green Party’s James Humphreys also agreed there was no problem with a future education secretary sending their children private – though Mr Arnott added it would be an ‘indictment’ of the quality of state schools.

Only 7 per cent of children in the UK are privately educated. Ukip has pledged to bring back grammar schools by converting some comprehensives, but Mrs Morgan said it would be a ‘step backwards’.

The rare frankness about whether they would opt for a private education for their children is in stark contrast to the controversy sparked by Labour Leftwinger Diane Abbott sending her son to the exclusive fee-paying City of London School. Miss Abbott had previously criticised Harriet Harman, now Labour’s deputy leader, for sending her children to a selective grammar school.

Many politicians on the Left have managed to get their children into elite state schools. Both Tony Blair – who converted to Catholicism after standing down – and atheist Nick Clegg, bagged places at leading London Oratory for their children. Both men are married to Catholics.