In a speech in October 2012 to the think-tank Politeia, Michael Gove named two “heroes”. The first was Teddy Roosevelt (more recently claimed as an inspiration by Ed Miliband), the second was Andrew Adonis. Gove hailed Tony Blair’s former schools minister and the architect of the academies programme as “a man who has always been on the side of the future”. He added:
“He created, protected, drove and grew the Academies programme. He did so in (and occasionally despite) a Labour government. He built alliances across parties – most notably in building on reforms introduced by another great moderniser – Kenneth Baker. And he has never stopped challenging all of us in Government to get on with it.
“Because Andrew understands that one of the greatest enemies of innovation and progress is time.”
For this reason, as well as his ministerial experience, it is notable that Adonis has joined those attacking Gove’s decision not to reappoint Labour peer Sally Morgan as the chair of Ofsted.
He tweeted today:
Sally Morgan should be reappointed as chair of Ofsted, to preserve its independence and integrity.
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) February 3, 2014
(2) Gove says she has done a “really good job” and that she and Michael Wilshaw “a fantastic team”, so she should serve a second term …
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) February 3, 2014
(3) … as normal after a first 3 year term.
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) February 3, 2014
Adonis, who is now shadow infrastructure minister and is leading a growth review for Labour, also declared today that Gove’s description of the state system is a “caricature”.
Gove has long sought to present his reforms as a continuation of those pursued by New Labour, an approach that has made it harder for the opposition to successfully challenge him. He said at his speech this morning that academies were “based on the work of [Kenneth] Baker, implemented by Blair and Adonis, and expanded by Cameron and Clegg”.
But Gove’s careless partisanship means he is now in danger of losing any claim he has to Labour’s mantle.
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