A Bradford MP has voted against his government less than three months after being elected.

Bradford East MP David Ward took a stand over the Academies Bill which was rushed through Parliament before the Commons broke up for summer last night.

The Bill allows all schools to apply for academy status, to be free of local authority control and set their own curriculum.

The Bill also allows free schools to be created where a group, parents, including faith groups, can set up their own school.

The Lib Dem MP, who has been heavily involved in education in Bradford for many years and remains a school governor, said: “We have gone through a long and painful Building Schools For The Future process, including six schools missing out in my constituency.

“We are also raising VAT, both needed because of the mess the last government left us in with no money, but we now can find £50m for new academies.

“I cannot live with these two states of affairs. We could have had this Academy Bill in two or three years time.

“We are cutting public services, increasing VAT, all necessary because of the previous government leaving us with no money.

“We have been given solid reassurances regarding SEN, pupil exclusion among other things but I will continue to be watching Michael Gove.”