14/5/2008

“Wilson: Alliance all over the place ”

Sammy Wilson MP has slammed Councillor Stewart Dickson for comments he made in the Carrick Times last week, when he claimed that Mr Wilson was ‘rubbishing’ secondary schools.’

Mr Wilson made the following statement:

“It is an absolute nonsense to suggest that I was rubbishing secondary schools – this is simply and clearly not the case. In fact I have consistently praised secondary schools for the good work that they do.

But the question has to be asked to Councillor Dickson: where does he stand on the issue of academic selection? His statement suggests that he is in favour of a comprehensive system. This would put him at odds with some of his own party members, and it is getting harder to understand what the Alliance Party position is on post primary transfer – it’s all over the place. Some support grammar schools, some oppose them, some support academic selection, some disagreeing. Maybe Councillor Dickson should meet with the other members of his party and work out what their position is.

But if Councillor Dickson is really in favour of selection by size of your wallet or social connections then he has a cheek accusing the DUP of being elitist, because there is nothing more elitist than a system which allocates school places on the basis of a persons ability to pay or the social connections that they have.”


ENDS

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