Dartford Council’s shadow deputy leader is battling for constituents whose children face a fight for school places close to home.

Councillor Daisy Page gave a speech at the Labour conference on September 30 about the shortage of school places in the borough.

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Councillor Page speaking at the Labour Conference

Her speech came just hours after Dartford MP Gareth Johnson released a statement about the risk to Dartford grammar schools following Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Labour Leader.

Speaking to thousands of delegates and millions of viewers across the country, Councillor Page insisted this was not the Labour Party’s fault.

She said: “I want to highlight the lack of school places in my constituency of Dartford.

“My constituents are being allocated school places miles away from their homes, after Kent County Council was awarded an extra £92 million from the Department for Education in the spring.

“This was given to meet the need for more school places over the next three years.

“Now imagine my anger when a secondary school in Dartford was closed by the secretary of state for education after being allocated this increased funding.

“Kent County Council had to offer school places in the London Boroughs of Bexley and Bromley – we can’t let this happen again.”

Only one in five children in Kent were offered a place at their first choice school this year.

Due to the shortage of secondary school places, 3,174 Kent children did not achieve their first, second or third choice school.

Councillor Page also claimed that the education of children and the provision of state education is at serious risk under this Tory government.

She reassured parents across the country that the Labour Party would continue to fight to protect their state school and to ensure that there are enough places for their children.

Councilor Page’s comments came following Dartford MP Gareth Johnson hit back at Jeremy Corbyn’s maiden speech at the Labour conference.

Speaking about education, the Labour Party leader made it clear he was not a supporter of selective education.

He highlighted the need for all grammar schools to become comprehensives.

After listening to the speech, Mr Johnson commented on this attack on the popular grammar schools which are thriving in Dartford.

He said: “As an ex-Dartford Grammar school pupil myself, I am dismayed at this attack on our grammar school system.

“All children have different needs and skills and grammar schools provide part of the diverse system we need to avoid a one-size-fits-all education system.

“This lurch to the left by the Labour Party is worrying nationally and in particular here in Dartford because of the uncertainty it causes.

“Jeremy Corbyn and his party need to leave our grammar schools alone.”