MP's career at risk over school row

Labour left-winger Diane Abbott has admitted that she could be forced out over her decision to send her 12-year-old son James to a private school.

Ms Abbott - who has in the past criticised Tony Blair and Harriet Harman for sending their children to selective schools - caused outrage when it emerged that she had chosen not to send James to a local comprehensive in Hackney.

In an interview with the Sunday Mirror she acknowledged that her decision would play into the hands of critics who wanted to oust her as MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

"I know I've delivered myself on a plate to my enemies and there is absolutely no doubt my career is on the line," she said.

"It would not surprise me if local party members were discussing my removal as we speak. They might well decide they want me to stand down as their MP and I will understand if they do.

"I don't know whether my political career is over but accept that people are angry and I will have to deal with that.

"I suppose the principled thing to do would have been to send my son to a failing state school, however bad it was, but I'm sorry I just don't possess that level of principle."

She said that one of the reasons for not sending James to a local comprehensive was race.

"I do know the issues around the education of black boys in this borough. I've seen what happens to black boys who get caught up in the culture of the street. It's hard to pull them back," she said.

"It is a race issue because, of all the ethnic groups in London's schools, the only group that is falling behind is black boys."

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