Well, sort of. There was a fair amount of harrumphing when, after Labour’s victory, Blair avoided state schools for his own kids. His boys, Nicky (now 13) and Euan (15), go to a Roman Catholic-sponsored school, London Oratory, that is operated as a state school–it receives government funds and is free of private tuition. (Blair’s daughter, Kathryn, 10, goes to another church-sponsored school, Sacred Heart.)
Along the way the Blair government cut aid to so-called grant-maintained schools, London Oratory included. So last week the Blair family was embarrassed when London Oratory sent out letters to parents asking for a monthly “contribution” of £45 to make up for Dad’s cutbacks. Any comment from the Blair family? No. It’s a “private” matter, said a spokesman–perhaps a bad choice of words.
