David Boothroyd writes
In article , Dave
wrote:
David Boothroyd writes
Then there was the ILEA scandal... bloody Tebbit.

Which particular ILEA scandal?

ILEA was previously run by a committee of the GLC.

No. ILEA was a separate standalone authority created in 1965 to replace
the Education functions of the LCC. Members of the GLC for Inner London
electoral areas were ex officio members of ILEA. Each Borough Council
in Inner London also appointed a member. ILEA was not part of the GLC.

Pedantry.

"While the 20 outer boroughs were responsible for education, in the 12
inner boroughs (and the City of London) it was provided by the Inner
London Education Authority (ILEA), an offshoot of the GLC. "
http://www.alg.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=8649&cat=989

When the GLC was abolished the Government opted for a directly-elected
education authority - making ILEA unique in that respect.

Unique in the 1980s but not unprecedented.
[...]

Again, more pedantry.

It was meant to be part of a brave new world of making local politics
more accountable; directly-electing authorities. In the future it could
be extended to other education authorities - possibly even health
authorities and who knows...

I don't think so.
[...]

I do. That was the clear implication of the rhetoric used by the Tories
at the time.

So they decided to allow individual boroughs to opt-out of
ILEA - but as that legislation went through Parliament, Tebbit tabled an
amendment to abolish ILEA completely.

You have your timings wrong. The decision to abolish ILEA was taken in
1988. Norman Tebbit left the government in 1987. The 1987 manifesto,
over which Tebbit would have had some control (although not a great
deal) only pledged to allow the inner boroughs to opt out from ILEA.
The change in policy was made by Kenneth Baker.

I didn't say that Tebbit was part of the Government. I said he tabled
the amendment - back benchers can and do propose amendments to
Government bills.

Or are you accusing Peter Brooke of lying to Parliament?

"The abolition of ILEA was not initiated by the then Government, but by
a Back Bench amendment tabled by Lord Tebbit and my right hon. Friend
the Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine). They were unusual proposers of a
Back Bench amendment, although it was, in the event, successful and
effective."
http://www.parliament.the-stationery...00/cmstand/f/s
t000606/am/00606s03.htm

--
Dave