One last lurch to the left for Labour, education?
National Party Education spokesman Bill English says the Labour Party appears to be gearing up for one last lurch to the
left by floating the ridiculous idea of having Jim Anderton as Minister of Education in a future Labour-led Government.
“Clearly Labour and Mr Anderton think they could be in with one last chance to turn the education of our children into a
plaything for left-wing theorists. I know that parents will be very concerned at that prospect, distant as it may seem.
“Jim Anderton doesn’t think business people can be trusted to run business without his guiding hand. He will never
believe that teachers and communities are those in the best position to run our schools.
“Trevor Mallard was forced to backdown on a number of his loopy ideas when pushed by parent power. Jim Anderton would be
less likely to take notice of parents in what he knows will be his last term in office.
“The only good news to come of this barmy idea is that Labour seems to have finally woken up to the fact that Trevor
Mallard is a liability and has to go.
“I welcome an election debate on education offering a choice between a National-led Government that will set high
standards for our young people and stick to them, and a Labour-led Government hell-bent on turning our children into
guinea pigs for loopy left-wing idealists like Jim Anderton,” says Mr English.
Ends