Consistency is required from Tory MP states Gordon Banks

25 February 2008

Ochil & South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks has hit out at fellow MP Daniel Kawczynski after his comments in today’s Daily Telegraph.

Mr Kawczynski backed David Cameron after the Tory leader stated that school trips to Auschwitz were a ‘gimmick’.  Mr Kawczynski said it is “…difficult to justify spending taxpayer’s money on sending children on these foreign trips to visit the camp (Auschwitz) when rural primary schools in counties such as Shropshire have been so badly squeezed of money.”

Labour MP Gordon Banks said – “I was surprised to read Mr Kawczynski’s comments as I have often found him to be a quite a reasonable and honest MP.  However his recent remarks have shown that he is simply happy to dance along to the tune of his leader, however ridiculous and offensive that tune may be.”

“As someone who is a strong advocate of the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust, I was surprised to see Mr Kawcynski’s comments in the Telegraph especially in light of the fact that only last month he signed Early Day Motion 648 which praised the positive impact that these Auschwitz trips had on our young people.  It appears that Mr Kawczynski’s opinion varies month to month.”

“I think more people would respect his views if there was a strain of consistency in his argument but as you can see, that is sadly lacking.  However no one is questioning his party loyalty as he seems very keen to stick up for his leader even when Mr Cameron has been criticised from all sides on this issue.”

“I also find Mr Kawczynski’s comments regarding investment in schools quite bewildering since it was this Labour Government which has doubled funding for every schoolchild in England since 1997."