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Storm over Kelly 'clash' on abortion

Blaise Tapp
20/12/2004

NEW Education Secretary Ruth Kelly is at the centre of a religious row days after taking over her new job.

It has been claimed the Bolton MP - a devout Catholic - made it known she did not want to work in the Department of Health because of her religious beliefs on abortion and contraception.

But in her new role, she has responsibility for the government's teenage pregnancy strategy and for policy on sex education classes.

It has also been alleged the 36-year-old mother-of-four is a member of Opus Dei, a conservative Roman Catholic group, which is opposed to abortion and euthanasia.

Her spokesman dismissed the concerns over the politician's personal beliefs and insisted her priority is to raise education standards.

He also stressed his boss had never been offered a job in the Department of Health.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said Ms Kelly, who took over from Charles Clarke following last week's cabinet reshuffle in the aftermath of David Blunkett's resignation, would not be detailing her views on the subject so soon after starting her new job.

He said she set out her "strategic priorities" on Friday.

"As she indicated in answer to a question on Tomlinson (a report on education reform for 14 to 19 year olds), she is not going to get into detailed policy debates at this stage," he said.

A Sunday newspaper quoted a spokesman for Opus Dei confirming that the former journalist was a member of the group.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(4)


Most recent 2 of 4 user comments

   Unfortunately it is the case in education that in many schools staff have to be practising Catholics to be appointed, thus giving catholic staff an unfair advantage as they can apply to non-catholic schools. This prejudice would not be tolerated in any other profession. I fear Ms Kelly's strict views on many issues will be detrimental to the development of healthy integrated schools and will only promote more religious schools. I also find it insulting that someone with no educational background should be given such an important job.
Sandra H, Bolton
23/12/2004 at 16:31

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   The idea that anyone who defends the principle that innocent human lives ought not to be destroyed cannot be trusted to be minister of education is sinister in the extreme. A more interesting question is whether people who do not uphold the principles of Ruth Kelly should be trusted with the education portfolio. Such (unbiased!!!) people are clearly incapable of understanding the fundamentals of justice.
Anthony McCarthy, London
22/12/2004 at 10:10

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