State school row hits Eastleigh by-election
THE Eastleigh by-election erupted into a bitter war of words last night with Labour accusing the Tory candidate of insulting voters who were educated at state schools.
Maria Hutchings, who is contesting the seat vacated by ex-Cabinet minister Chris Huhne, claimed her autistic son would need private schooling to fulfil his dream of a medical career.
She said: “William is very gifted, which gives us another interesting challenge in finding the right sort of education for him, impossible in the state system. He wants to be a cardio-respiratory surgeon.”
An insult to every state school in the country and all of their pupils
Labour leader Ed Miliband, who joined supporters in Eastleigh, in Hampshire, yesterday, wrote on Twitter: “Comments from Maria Hutchings totally wrong.
“An insult to every state school in the country and all of their pupils.” The election will be held on February 28.