Mayor's misguided proposals on academies are challenged by LDA Board

3.54.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th May 2009

Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly spokesperson on the London economy, commenting on today's decision by the London Development Agency (LDA) Board not to support the Mayor's proposal to fund new academies said:

"The Mayor's proposals are so misguided that even his hand picked Board are refusing to go along with his proposals for academies unless the Mayor 'directs' them to do so. The LDA's Board are quite right to challenge the Mayor as they know full well that putting money into creating new schools falls outside of the LDA's remit.

"If the Mayor has any sense he will now back down on his proposals to create new schools and instead let the LDA get on with its core tasks of supporting businesses, training London's unemployed and promoting the capital's economy."