Tories' school claim backfires

The Conservatives' campaign to undermine Tony Blair over an opt-out school ballot in his constituency blew up in their faces yesterday when the school's headteacher and the chairman of the governors condemned a government investigation into allegations that parents were intimidated.

Eamonn Farrar, headteacher of Hurworth school in Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency, who had campaigned unsuccessfully for parents to vote to adopt grant-maintained status, said he will not co-operate with the investigation. He told the Newcastle Journal: "We cannot be used in this way. Anybody who is keeping it rolling along is not helping. We want to be left alone. It's our school."

Derek Mason, the Tory councillor who is chairman of the governors of school outside Darlington, also attacked the Education department's decision to "stick their oar in". He told the Independent: "We want to draw a line under the ballot, heal all the wounds and build some bridges."

Parents at the Hurworth school in Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency voted by 63 to 37 per cent this week not to opt out of Durham County Council's control, after the head alleged the local Labour Party misled and intimidated them.

Mrs Shephard's officials yesterday "called for information" from Durham council, although a department spokeswoman said she was "not aware of specific complaints, but there has been quite a bit of coverage". Articles repeating claims of intimidation appeared in the Sunday Express and yesterday's Daily Telegraph.

Mr Farrar, who launched the campaign for the school to opt out when he became headmaster three months ago, claimed Labour activists, teacher unions and Durham council had spread misinformation. He claimed a party member had even referred to him on the doorstep of one parent as a "pillock".

But yesterday he said: "The parents have decided and I'm happy about that. Now I just want to get on with my job of providing a quality education for the children."

David Blunkett, Labour's education spokesman, claimed Mrs Shephard's officials were "embarrassed" by the decision to investigate, and the fact that Education department press releases "are now being faxed around by Conservative Central Office".