Nick Clegg's feud with Michael Gove escalated today with Lib-Dem aides accusing Tory rivals of sparking a “silly row” over education reforms.
The two Cabinet ministers’ camps clashed after Mr Clegg told how he, and David Cameron, often had to resolve disputes over Coalition schools policy. The Liberal Democrat leader’s assertion led to a furious attack from one of Education Secretary Mr Gove’s aides.
“Clegg is lying again, just as he did on tuition fees,” said the source. “We have been able to transform schools by keeping him out of it. He’s annoyed because he doesn’t like the fact we are improving kids’ chances in life and it’s got nothing to do with him and his party.”
The Deputy Prime Minister has sought to rein in Mr Gove’s free schools revolution and blocked his proposals to bring back O-level style exams instead of GCSEs. Mr Gove is thought to believe that Mr Clegg’s announcement of free school meals for all infant pupils to be a poor use of limited public money.
“Clegg’s only interest seems to be diverting money away from important areas such as creating new school places and instead lavishing tens of millions on back-of-a-fag-packet schemes,” the Department for Education source added.
But a senior Lib-Dem source dismissed the latest allegations as a “silly little row from his (Mr Gove’s) advisers” and a “ludicrous accusation”. He added: “There are some sour grapes.” Meanwhile, Boris Johnson called for shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt to clarify his views over Germany’s responsibility for the First World War — or resign.
The Mayor intervened after Mr Hunt attacked Mr Gove, who had criticised TV shows such as Blackadder and historians for their portrayal of it.
Mr Johnson said that the war was “overwhelmingly the result of German expansionism and aggression”.
Mr Hunt tweeted in response: “Boris shld focus less on Sarajevo 1914 & a bit more on the wretched state of London Underground this morning.”
