A class divide

There's only one explanation for the latest consultation exercise into the funding of rural services – and that is the imminence of the General Election. Voters, however, are very likely to see through New Labour's trickery.

The under-funding of village schools in areas, like North Yorkshire and the East Riding, is not new. The disparity between urban and rural schools existed before this Government came to power.

Yet, despite Ministers embracing the importance of "education for all", they have allowed this class divide to remain. They will not admit it – but Labour's lack of electoral support in countryside constituencies is probably the determining factor, even though governments are supposed to accept responsibility for the whole country.

There's another aspect to the Government's sentiments that does not stand up to scrutiny. While the case for additional funding is a proven one, Ministers are typically coy on how this will be funded. For, while schools are one of the few policy areas that will be treated as a special case in the forthcoming spending round, headteachers are still likely to have to make do with a standstill budget at best. And, despite the rhetoric, there's little evidence to suggest that Labour has the ability to achieve "more for less" after the election. To use language more readily associated with school reports, it must do better.