School reforms win backing of rebels

There have been further signs from Labour rebels that the government is gaining more support for its school reform proposals.

Three critics of the plan - former education secretary Lady Morris and MPs Angela Eagle and Martin Salter, said on Thursday they would vote in favour of the Education and Inspection Bill at second reading.

But they hinted that ministers had agreed to address further concerns about the Bill during its consideration in committee, and warned that they could still withdraw their support.

All three had previously expressed serious concerns about the proposals.

Their move comes amid reports that Tony Blair has been holding private meetings with his backbench rebels, warning them that voting against the plans could boost the Conservatives.

In a joint statement the three Labour politicians said they still had questions about the legislation, but added that these could be addressed at committee stage.

They highlighted the criteria on which the new admissions code will be based, the education secretary's power to veto councils seeking to build new schools, and the regulation of organisations seeking to run schools.

"These matters need to be clarified as part of the process of parliamentary scrutiny and it is our understanding that the government agrees that these are appropriate matters to be addressed in committee," said the statement.

"We also recognise that to seek to vote down the Bill at second reading would risk losing the real improvements on admissions and community schools that have been made in the consensus process we have all been through.

"It would also sacrifice those parts of the Bill such as increased personalised learning, a new entitlement to more vocational training and a clear code to enforce discipline in schools, which have commanded strong support from teachers and Labour MPs.

"We therefore recommend our colleagues in the [parliamentary Labour Party] to give the Bill a second reading on March 15 but to seek further clarifications on the three outstanding areas of concern prior to report stage when, as usual, we can reassess the situation."

Salter, who resigned as PPS to schools minister Jacqui Smith in protest at the original plans, said many Labour MPs "now feel reluctant to throw away what has been achieved over the last three months, particularly on the new admissions criteria which is a marked improvement on the current situation".

And Angela Eagle, a vice-chairman of the parliamentary Labour Party, added: "The education bill is far from perfect and there remain three key areas of concern.

"However, now that the government has agreed to address these matters in committee it makes sense to at least to allow the Bill to begin its parliamentary process."