Kevin Brennan MP, Labour’s Shadow Schools Minister, said:

“Michael Gove’s response to the findings on Birmingham schools has been weak and inadequate. He is continuing to try to shift the blame from himself and distract from the fact that his Department was warned about the failings in Birmingham four years ago but did not take any action. Instead of clearing up his mess, he is playing politics with our children’s education.

"Far from steering the response towards a solution that will resolve the problems we have seen in Birmingham, the Liberal Democrats have been propping up the Tories and supporting Michael Gove’s headline-chasing strategy throughout. You can’t trust a word they say.”