back in 1997. So the choices will be pretty tough, from the off.

If they are to deliver on their promise of a growing economy, then education

has to be a priority. If their objective is growth, growth, growth, then
education, education, education has to be at the heart of it. We may be
entering the era of artificial intelligence, which can be transformative for our
lives, for good, for bad, for both. But there will always be the need for
human beings to be educated to make the most of their talent in order for
this country to make the most of opportunities and challenges that lie
ahead.

And if I can borrow again from the New Labour lexicon, the right thing to do
is to focus on education for the many, not the few. The change Labour is
proposing will of course have an impact upon the schools you represent,
and not all of it welcome to you and your parents, I am sure. The impact
may not be as dramatic as the more lurid and parti pris analyses might
suggest, and in any event it is a choice being made so that in a tough
economic environment, more funding can be found for the schools used by
the 93percen