In a wide-ranging debate on the issue at the party’s annual conference, members elected to support a motion arguing that free schools and academies will increase inequalities in the education system and that local authorities are best placed to exercise arm’s length support for all state schools.
Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), said the debate shows the underlying conflict between Liberal Democrat and Tory values.
"The fault line in the coalition government will clearly be on education policies and the importance of a fair education for all," she explained.
"Academies and free schools are Tory policies and stand in direct opposition to previous Liberal Democrat thinking.
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