It speaks volumes for the unstated, acute discomfort of Liberal Democrats that 90% of Liberal Democrat bloggers completely ignore this story and instead frantically attempt to cover it up by shooting the messenger, in the shape of the, admittedly highly dubious, Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-131923.html). So let's get back to the facts of the story:
Fact: Nick Clegg sells himself as atheist or agnostic
Fact: Faith schools are anathema to atheists and agnostics
Stephen Tall over on Liberal Democrat Voice states that Nick Clegg’s own views on faith schools are no secret and that 'within a month of his election as party leader in 2007, he set them out plainly': "If we are to create a society in which everyone has a fair chance in life, we need to focus on education, above all. Faith schools have an important role to play in that, and I am keen that they become engines of integration, not of segregation."
Well, he would say that wouldn't he? When making that statement he already knew that his children would be heading for some top catholic school and is, presumably, too clever to shoot himself in the foot. Children from homes with faith can perfectly happily be brought up in that faith by their family and their faith institution, without also going to a faith school.
A quick trawl of the history and context of the London Oratory makes it abundantly clear that it is highly selective, it's own website states the importance of 'interviews with parents and 'suitable' boys'.....Their Head was a member of a Tory Education Think Tank and openly goaded and challenged the Labour government by asking parents to cough up to 'cover the shortfall in funding'.
Our bloggers might all be good card carrying Liberal Democrats, I'm sure, but come on, just bite the bullet and admit that this is a shamelessly elitist choice by Clegg.
Love it or hate it, but don't deny it.
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