Grammar school abolition "a retrograde step"

Thursday 15 August 2019

Social mobility will suffer without a grammar school, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage MEP told Express during a vacation in Guernsey.

However, he believes the island will benefit from Brexit and shared his thoughts on Theresa May, who he described as the UK's "worst ever Prime Minister".

Mr Farage, who has holidayed in the Channel Islands on several occasions, spoke to Express following a visit to the Town Church this afternoon. 

After discussing Guernsey's "underclass" with people in the church, the former UKIP leader was dismayed to hear that the island was moving to a non-selective education system.

"There are two really good ways out of deprivation – education is one of them, and becoming a sports star is the other," he said. "I am a huge believer in grammar schools and always have been. 

"The destruction of grammar schools across the whole of the UK has been a really retrograde step and I think social mobility has gone backwards because of it. If that is where [your education system is going] then it is a retrograde step."

Pictured: How Theresa May might have reacted to Nigel Farage's comments about her. 

Mr Farage said he likes visiting the island, which he has been to four or five times. He described locals as "very welcoming" and remarked that the streets of St Peter Port seemed busier than the last time he was here.

He believes that the UK's exit from the European Union will be of benefit to Guernsey.

"I think Brexit is potentially a huge positive for you. We have been imposing a whole lot of EU policy on you and your financial markets which have not been to your advantage." 

And Mr Farage, who has long campaigned for the UK's withdrawal from the EU, said his country's government could not have done a worst job putting it into practice. 

"It has been pathetic. She [Theresa May] was the worst Prime Minister we have ever had and if I hadn’t set up the Brexit Party she would still be in power."

"Boris is saying all the right things – we will have to see whether he can deliver."

Pictured top: Nigel Farage MEP outside the Town Church, which he was having a look around this afternoon.