Clegg's split over education

Nick Clegg stressed today that his stand was not about electioneering, but genuinely-held strongly differing opinions on this issue.

I'm sure his party members will be quite happy to see growing divides with the Conservatives. It also, of course, aligns them more closely with the Labour position which could also prove handy in a year or so.

Downing Street have said today they are very surprised by what Nick Clegg has said, but they're trying to spin this as not a split in the Coalition, but a split within the Liberal Democrats.

Education Minister Elizabeth Truss has said there is a"divergence of views" within the Liberal Democrat party over education policy.

A Downing Street spokesman said earlier that the Lib Dem schools minister David Laws said last week that he was "100% behind the coalition's free schools policy".

Jeremy Browne, a former Lib Dem minister, told the BBC's Sunday Politics today that the vast majority of free schools had done “an absolutely fantastic job”.

He added that he was concerned that the Liberal Democrats risked looking like a "pale imitation of the Labour Party".

"Criticising parts of the Coalition’s work will make it impossible for the Lib Dems to claim credit for Government successes," he added.

Conservative Education Minister Elizabeth Truss has said she is "slightly surprised" by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's comments on free schools.

She told ITV News she thinks there is a "divergence of views" within the Liberal Democrat party, and that Clegg may have spoken out to "placate" elements within the party.

Read: Nick Clegg to split with Tories over education policy

Nick Clegg has said that his stance on education is not a "surprise" and said that is not "a coalition crisis."

Speaking to Sky News the Deputy Prime Minister said: "It's not some great coalition crisis as it's been described, it's just a perfectly sincere difference of opinion.

"And it's about as we move to giving schools more autonomy do we at the same time ask them to respect some basic quality standards so that parents can be reassured that their children are going to be taught by qualified teachers, are going to be taught the national curriculum.

"Of course there are tensions and pinch points, we're not identical parties. No-one should be surprised about this and it's not a political crisis when some of those differences are articulated in public."

The new shadow education secretary has said he is "delighted" that the Deputy Prime Minister has called for qualified teachers in all schools, causing potential divisions in the coalition.

According to the Observer, Tristam Hunt said: "I'm delighted Nick Clegg has realised the dangers of an ideologically driven schools policy. We would be happy to work with him to reintroduce accountability, proper standards and qualified teachers in all our schools across the country."

Read: Labour will keep free schools

The Deputy Prime Minister will open dividing lines with the Conservatives by insisting some education policies should not continue. Nick Clegg is due to make a speech this week over coalition's stance on education. He is due to say:

Nick Clegg will dramatically disown key "ideological" planks of the coalition's education policy in a speech this week.

The Deputy Prime Minister is to open dividing lines with the Tories by insisting all teachers should be qualified, and the national curriculum should be taught in every school.

"It is Lib Dem policy to give all schools, whether they are academies or not, those same freedoms to attract and reward excellent teaching, set their own term dates and vary their school day," the Liberal Democrat leader will say.