THE dwindling number of traditional Labour voters will doubtless be dismayed at the Government White Paper on schools reform.

That is, of course, if they listened to the speeches of Tony Blair and Ruth Kelly, both products of an elitist system.

The reforms envisage that all state schools will become academy-style independent schools, run and managed, not by head teachers, staff and education authorities, but by a consortium of charities, private schools, universities and groups of parents.

These schools will be able to set their own admissions and curriculum as well as teachers' pay and conditions, outside national guidelines.

Details of the proposals are vague and contradictory, but the overall picture is one of moving from a highly prescriptive, Government-controlled system to some form of laissez-faire educational system; a free-for-all where the winner takes all.

And we know who the winners will be.

Teachers, educationists, local authorities, some parent groups and backbench MPs are opposing these changes, realising that if imposed, they will lead to chaos.

Is that what Mr Blair sees as his legacy?

Perhaps we are entitled to know what York's MP thinks on this issue.

Trudie Elliott,

Hopgrove Lane North,

York.

Updated: 10:32 Friday, November 04, 2005