MP lends support to Longbarn fight (From Warrington Guardian)

MP lends support to Longbarn fight

8:12am Wednesday 17th June 2009 in Longbarn By Miranda Newey

WITH the ‘axe positioned above Longbarn’ the Labour Party has condemned the proposal and called for a proper consultation.

Helen Jones, Warrington North MP, speaking on behalf of the borough’s Labour councillors, said: “Longbarn has performed better at key stage two than every other school in the north of Warrington, bar one.

“The Lib Dems and Tories should be allowing all parents the choice of schools which provide good quality education for their children. By closing a school which achieves good results, they are restricting parental choice. It makes no sense.”

She said that last year Labour were accused of scare mongering when the party warned that the Lib Dems and Tories were planning to draw the curtain on the Fallowfield Grove establishment.

“Now with the axe poised above Longbarn some of them are admitting we were right and are openly questioning the consultation process. Lib Dem councillor Scott Wilson told Poulton-with-Fearnhead parish council ‘this consultation is a waste of time it’s a done deal’,” she added.

She said the red rose party is calling on Warrington Borough Council’s Liberal Democrat and Conservative leadership to admit that Clr Wilson was correct.

Mrs Jones said: “We ask them to conduct a proper consultation. If they did the school would not have to close.“