Oliver Letwin has apologised for suggesting he would rather "beg" than send his children to a local school.

The shadow home secretary caused outrage when he indicated his preference for the private sector rather than state schools in London.

Speaking at a fringe meeting during last week's Conservative conference, Letwin said: "In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-payingschool.

"If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school where I live."

It is thought that Letwin was referring to the Lilian Baylis School in Kennington.

"I regret that a particular school was identified by the London press," he told Sky's Sunday with Adam Boulton programme.

"I have written to apologise to them because I would not want to cause any offence I did think it caused them.

"But I have to say that I am still - and the whole Conservative Party is still - passionate about Damian Green's policy, which is what I was explaining, for better school passports.

"What that does is to give parents choice which at the moment is available only to those of us lucky enough to have money."