By Luke Cross
DOMINIC Grieve had the full backing of the Conservative party today (Thursday, May 31) after seemingly fuelling the grammar school debate and flying in the face of party policy with his column in the Buckinghamshire Advertiser.
In last week's Advertiser, Mr Grieve, who is due back in the UK tonight, wrote that Buckinghamshire should be able to supply more grammar or secondary schools when they are needed to cope with a growing population, adding that there is "no question of changing the selective system in Buckinghamshire against the wishes of the local community."
Conservative party leader, David Cameron, and shadow education secretary, David Willetts have slammed the selective process, saying that it does not promote "social mobility," while the leader labelled the debate on new grammar schools "delusional."
On BBC Radio 4's World at One programme Mr Willetts today backed Mr Grieve, who he described as a "valuable and trusted" colleague, insisting that he had not stepped out of line as the party was looking at local authorities on a case by case basis.
Mr Willetts said: "Dominic has said absolutely nothing that is out of line with Conservative party policy."
Asked whether there would be "disciplinary" action taken against Mr Grieve or even whether he may go the same way as former shadow cabinet member Graham Brady MP, who left the front bench over the issue, Mr Wiletts said Mr Grieve was "totally entitled" to say what he did.
Mr Willetts also said he "respected" areas which had fought long and hard to keep grammar schools and that the policy was directed at places where grammar schools had died out.
A Conservative party spokesman said: "Dominic Grieve has said nothing that is out of line with Conservative Policy.
"Our objection to the creation of new grammar schools applies to many parts of the country where selection has long since disappeared.
"As David Willetts made clear on the radio last week, in terms of specific LEAs to create extra grammar schools, in the places where academic selection still exists based