Blair urged to beware of neglecting schools

Peter Mandelson has warned the Government that it is in danger of neglecting education when it publishes its three-year public spending programme in July.

Writing in The Independent today, the former Northern Ireland secretary, expresses a fear in the Labour Party that education will be squeezed after Gordon Brown's announcement of an extra £40bn for the National Health Service. Although the money for health has been welcomed by Labour MPs, many are worried the Government will suffer a backlash if education appears to have been downgraded. Many more people use the education system than the NHS.

Mr Mandelson, a close ally of Tony Blair, warns that Mr Brown's Budget pledge to boost the share of national income spent on education will be "challenging". He writes: "I think it would be a mistake for the Government to allow its passion for education to be undermined by a shortfall in resources." Of the £10bn "new money" available in the 2003-04 financial year not already earmarked, he says £4bn will go into tax credits for the poor, £2.8bn on health and social services; and £2bn for other contingencies. This leaves £1.2bn for everything else, including defence, transport, crime and education.

The Hartlepool MP calls on the Government to raise the share of national income going to education from 5.1 per cent to at least the OECD average of 6 per cent.

Mr Mandelson writes: "I believe education must return to the political front line."