So, Dave has picked a fight on a non-issue and lost it.

Apparently educational selection was OK if one could afford to pay for it. Now, in what Letwin might call an "Old Etonian paradigm switch" educational selection may be extended in areas which already have it, like Buckinghamshire.

The likes of Graham Brady, Michael Ancram and Nigel Evans who have stood up for grammar schools deserve praise for honesty and consistency.

Peter Gooderham, Cardiff, Wales

Having attended a grammar school, and being a fervent proponent of them, this apparent change of heart is excellent news. Cameron's former stance on grammar schools was the first of his arguments that I have not agreed with.

Warren Allan, London, England

So just what exactly is Cameron's position on Grammar schools? He seems to have rather confused himself, the poor lad.

Dave, Manchester, England

Why dont politicians take time to carefully assess all repercussions and opportunities for the lives of the people who will be on the end of their pronouncements. and carefully research statistics before they go public.Instead we have this particular mess with Cameron making a fool of himself and Osborne also. Respect cannot be won by this muddled thinking and behaviour. If this is an example of future Conservative behaviour then they might as well give up now before they can do any more damage. The British public are no fools and should be respected for their wisdom and ability to see through opportunists

Marian Oakley, Abbeyfeale, Limerick, Republic of Ireland

Perhaps Tony Blair is advising Mr Cameron's team on educashun policy; their recent pronouncements have all of the PM's hallmarks: lots of headlines, plenty of rhetoric and little of substance. El Gordo must think all his birthdays have arrived together

Mike, Appleby,

Many of us conservatives always said that Cameron was the wrong choice for leader.
The oppurtunity was there for the conservatives to elect a leader on a true meritocracy basis - Davis was born on a council estate and has demonstrated the kind of qualities that this country needs people to copy, without the buffoon qualities shown by Prescott.
Cameron was born with a silver spoon in his mouth which alienates so many potential voters who believe in advancement by ability, and at the moment we are looking at another 5 or 6 years of labour.

tony, birmingham, uk

Time to say goodbye to Cameron and the NUTories.

Robert Boyd Ex Tory, Derby, Derbyshire

Another piece of nonsense from DC -now all the parents who want grammar school education for their children will be moving to places like Buckinghamshire-he is always asking TB to say sorry i was wrong,now its his turn .we soon will see how he has affected his support by this ridiculous policy-I had so much hope for this man ,but this is another in a long line of disappointments -definately not Ming!! Perhaps a new leader whilst we still have a chance

phil, manchester, uk

All Cameron had to say was, that existing grammar schools could be extended to keep in line with demographic changes. The fact that some extensions would be built in sites remote from the existing school would still leave the policy intact, providing the name was unchanged.

Thankfully the Party has a new director of communications. It certainly needs a good one.

Peter Stroud, Hook,

Gosh - what a load of over-excited twaddle. Making policy about how our kids are educated is a complicated business. The Tories are in opposition - they are supposed to be thinking through new policy positions. They can U-turn all they want till they get it right. The Labour Party, on the other hand, has been in government for ten years, and is solely responsible for creating the present disastrously failing system.

Gordon Stewart, London,

With Labour on the back foot, the Tories merely need a decent, electable leader with sensible policies and government is theirs. Instead they have Cameron who rushes about trying to look "right on" and telling people what he THINKS they want to hear, and ends up making Labour laugh and the rest of us despair.

Steve Lee, Gillingham, England

Is anyone still predicting that Cameron is going to win the next general election hands down? I haven't noticed any such claims lately from even his most ardent supporters. My guess is it won't be long before the Tories look back in fond nostalgia to the days of Iain Duncan Smith!

K Philips, London,

Tories shouldn't worry - New Labour have done U-turns almost every week since May, 1997 just like a dog chasing its own tail.

nick, Woodford, England

This word grammar is way out of date. They should be called algebra schools.

Henry Percy, London, UK

Osborne looks like a fool this morning after trying to act tough and threatening to block the opening any more grammar schools.

Cameron's authority is in tatters, but despite this, today is a good day for both conservatives with the Cameron clique's grip on power at last beginning to slip and, more importantly, also for poor but bright kids of future generations who will now still have a chance to compete with the private schoolers and achieve their full, specialist, advanced potential.

Chad Noble, London,

muddle muddle toil and trouble, hardly a clause 4 moment for Cameron

Graeme Stewart, Glasgow,

What a fiasco, you couldn't make it up. No doubt the new spin-doctor from the News of the World will keep exasperated Tories highly amused while the current ship of Etonian day-dreamers sails blithely on to electoral disaster. Come in Mr Cameron - your time is up!

Bill Holmes, Derby, U.K.

Forget Clause 5 'moment' more like a 'm. foot' or shoot yourself in the foot ... (lol)

http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/susan/joke/foot.htm

M A Patel, Dewsbury, England