Ruth Kelly has said that her Roman Catholic beliefs will have no influence on her political judgment.

Responding to concerns raised by Labour colleagues over her association with Opus Dei, the Catholic sect, the education secretary tells today's Mirror: "I don't see why it should be an issue at all."

She added that her beliefs will not affect her stance on such issues as stem-cell research or sex education.

"I have a faith. It is a private spiritual life and I don't think it is relevant to my job," she said.

Kelly also says that private firms and tycoons are to get a greater role in schools.

She says: "We want popular schools to expand more quickly and use competition to find the best provider of new schools."

She added that city academies "can really transform and energise a local area".