Brown and Cameron's education reform fight

Last Modified: 10 Jul 2007
By: Gary Gibbon

Gordon Brown and David Cameron tried to claim education and the family as a key battleground for votes.

The Conservatives spoke of fixing 'Britain's broken society' by offering tax incentives for married couples.

Mr Brown's new schools secretary Ed Balls meanwhile promised a significant increase in the academy schools programme and a renewed emphasis on school standards and discipline.

It was the first time Gordon Brown stepped into an academy school - only four months ago he was with Tony Blair who started them up seven years earlier.

Gordon Brown was seen as a sceptic for the project. Some of those who supported him on the left of the party hoped his government would move away from academies.

Today his closest ally, the new secretary for children, schools and families, promised more academies than ever.

Gordon Brown and Ed Balls visited a north London school today - these changes apply to schools in England only.

Ed Balls wants universities to start backing academies - they wouldn't have to put down £2m to do it - there could be more institutions backing academies, fewer businesspeople.

The schools department says he wants new academy projects to take much more notice of local education authorities when they're being considered. Looking at all that, some in the unions and on the left came to different conclusions

The conservatives accused the government of going back on Tony Blair's plans and restoring local education authority powers.

Gordon Brown says his education policy will be about standards not structures. It sounds like an abandonment of Tony Blair's commitment to pushing for new types of schools, but there are the first signs today that it may not feel like a drastic change of tack.