Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It was hard not to feel sympathy for Nick Clegg when he was asked on his radio phone-in this week about plans for his eldest son's education. With Antonio's transfer to secondary school looming this autumn, the Cleggs face the choice all parents face at this stage: not just which school to choose but, if money allows, whether to go state or private. The dilemma is particularly sharp in London because of the shortage of places and – despite the big improvement in the capital's schools – because of the gap between the truly excellent and, frankly, not so excellent.
For a politician, however, the choice is still more complicated. Going private is all too often interpreted as a vote of no confidence in state education. For a Labour politician, especially, this can be the kiss of death; if the decision itself does not stymie a career, the pillorying that follows may well do. Many will recall the vilification of Diane Abbott and Ruth Kelly when they chose private schools for their sons. Tony Blair played the religion card, sending his children to the sought-after Oratory School.
Yet politicians of all stripes can find themselves saying one thing and, when it comes to their own child, doing another. David Cameron, the old Etonian, has made much of the fact that his elder daughter attends a state primary. But it is early days yet.
Few would dispute that there are big disparities – in facilities and attainment – between the best private schools in Britain and the average state secondary. Few would deny either that, in an ideal world, those disparities, or the private schools themselves, would be made to disappear. But this is not an ideal world, and no government, least of all this one, is going to legislate to nationalise the public schools.
The private/state school divide probably does more than anything else to perpetuate class distinctions in Britain; as such, it is a blight on our national life. So long as it exists, though, politicians must be allowed the same freedom as everyone else to choose their child's school, without the choice being held against them. Mr Clegg said he did not want his children's education, or his children, to become "a political football". He is right. The Cleggs have kept their children out of the political limelight; their schooling should be kept out of it, too.
Keep politicians' children out of it
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments