Parents' responsibilities

Ruth Kelly has promised to put parents at the heart of the education system.

The new education secretary used her first speech in the role to promise an acceleration of "choice" in the state school system.

But speaking to the North of England Education conference in Manchester on Thursday she also stressed that parents will have increasing responsibilities as well as rights.

Party Response: Conservative

Tim Collins, shadow education secretary, said: "This speech illustrates the dangers of Labour's half-hearted and inconsistent talk about using choice to improve education. Ruth Kelly speaks movingly of an outcome with only the sketchiest idea of how it is to be achieved. It is hardly surprising then that after nearly eight years in power, ministers continue to preside over falling exam standards, declining teacher morale and worsening classroom discipline.