Senior Tory challenges Cameron's block on new grammar schools

Shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve has broken ranks on David Cameron

David Cameron faced the most serious challenge yet to his grammar school policy today after it emerged that a key shadow cabinet minister was defying the party line.

According to reports shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve has broken ranks to insist that his local education authority should be allowed to build more grammars.

Mr Cameron has explicitly ruled out the creation of new grammar schools under a Conservative government, declaring that it was time to end the "sterile" debate about selective education.

The Tory leader's policy has triggered a backlash among the party's grass roots and this week frontbencher Graham Brady quit in protest.

He had been given a severe reprimand by party whips for speaking out in favour of grammars.

According to the Evening Standard, Mr Grieve, who represents Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, could be facing similar sanctions or worse after he called for LEAs at a local level to be allowed to expand selective schools.

"Our local schools are very good and provide excellent education for the students,î he told his local newspaper. "This is why I am pleased that although my own party is looking at ways of improving education nationally through reforming the existing comprehensive system, there is no question of our changing the selective educat ion system in Buckinghamshire against the wishes of the local community."

Crucially, Mr Grieve then added: "We must also ensure that if further grammar or secondary schools are needed they can be supplied within the county."

Such a move would contradict Mr Cameron's insistence that he would not allow any more grammars to be built.

The Conservative leader has stressed that while he would not try to close existing schools, he would not tolerate any expansion of selection at 11-plus because that would send the wrong message to voters.

Mr Cameron said last month that his critics "simply don't understand that the idea of introducing a few extra grammars says nothing to thousands of parents worried about children languishing in failing schools".

But both Tory critics and Labour will be sure to seize on Mr Grieve's remarks to demand that Mr Cameron treats him as severely as Mr Brady has been over the past week.

Some Conservative MPs believe their leader acted disproportionately, given that he had refused to reprimand his friend and fellow former Eton pupil Boris Johnson over a string of gaffes.

Today, Mr Brady signalled that he would continue to act as a standard bearer for the Right over the issue, suggesting in the Daily Telegraph that the leadership was guilty of double standards.

"Whilst loudly proclaiming our commitment to diversity, localism and choice, we are telling parents that if what they choose in their locality and for their children is an academically selective education, they can't have it unless of course they can afford to go private," Mr Brady said.

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