Published: August 8th 2010 - at 8:45 am

Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools


by Sunny Hundal    

Michael Gove, the under-fire Education Secretary, has been warned in confidential advice from a leading QC that local authorities have a “fairly strong case” in legal bids to recover costs incurred from cancelled school building programmes.

The advice, leaked to The Sunday Telegraph, is the latest blow for Mr Gove as he battles against the fallout from his botched announcement last month in which he axed more than 700 projects.

At least two local authorities – Sandwell and Nottingham City Council – are known to be preparing possible legal challenges, and several other councils may follow in moves which could see the taxpayer facing payouts totalling hundreds of millions of pounds.

Last month The Sunday Telegraph revealed that Mr Gove had ignored the advice of his own officials in going ahead with the announcement of the scrapping of the £55 billion Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative before widespread consultation.

The DfE said the newspaper’s story was “wrong” – only for it to be confirmed in evidence to the Commons all-party education select committee.

…more at the Sunday Telegraph


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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. Rhys Williams

I know the Tory drones will defend him but,
1. He was ADVISED not to make the speech because they did not have the correct information because they did not know they were going to cut these projects. Was it the Tory manifesto
2. The law suits will cost more than the cuts.
3. Like most cowards he blamed others in the end.
4. Academies were meant to be give resources to failing schools in poor areas, now the resources and money are going to already outstanding schools in middle class areas.
5. Open schools may or may not be a good idea, but at least pilot the scheme on a small scale in both an affluent and poor area. See if it does work. Not go ahead like a blind fool. All you might have the same legal problems.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa

  2. Les Crompton

    RT @libcon: Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa Ha Ha Ha Ha,you couldn;t make it up!!!

  3. jill rowan

    RT @libcon Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/cjcj2u

  4. Ashley Bullard

    According to report Michael #Gove could face legal action for school #budget #cuts: http://bit.ly/aP0eGa #recession #education #nuwt #naht

  5. manishta sunnia

    Woohoo…great news! let's do it! @libcon Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa #milksnatcher #toryfail #ConDem

  6. AdamRamsay

    RT @libcon Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/cjcj2u

  7. P. S. Wong

    RT @libcon: Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa

  8. peterdcox

    RT @libcon: Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa | One lot of public money chasing another – a worse scandal

  9. Alex Lodge

    RT @libcon: Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa

  10. Jonathan Davies

    RT @libcon Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa #ukpolitics #labour #ConDem

  11. Other TaxPayers Alli

    RT @libcon: Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa

  12. B Latif

    RT @libcon: #Gove may face #lawsuits for cutting #schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa >>> #LibCon

  13. Jo C

    “@libcon: Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa” GOOD!

  14. Kenneth Yau

    RT @libcon: Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa

  15. Peter Raymond

    RT @libcon: Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa

  16. Dave Howard

    RT @libcon Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools http://bit.ly/aP0eGa

  17. Naadir Jeewa

    Reading: Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools: Michael Gove, the under-fire Education Secretary, has been wa… http://bit.ly/b17aYK

  18. Halle Davies

    Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools | Liberal Conspiracy: Gove may face lawsuits for cutting schools. by Su… http://bit.ly/b4edZK

  19. blogs of the world

    At least two local authorities ? Sandwell and Nottingham City Council ? are known to be pr… http://reduce.li/76r1k5 #may





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