Gordon Brown was asked to intervene personally after his office was accused of misleading two schools and four local newspapers over the content of his education speech last week.

The Times revealed yesterday that the newspapers had been told certain schools in their areas were likely to be singled out, even though, in the event, none was mentioned.

However, not only may the newspapers have been deceived, but now the schools themselves have said that they had been told they would be featuring.

Last night Downing Street continued to insist that it had never suggested the schools would be mentioned in the Prime Minister's speech.

However, this was challenged by at least four of those involved.

Iain Hulland, the head teacher of Alder Grange, said that his school had been told that it would feature in the speech.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: “We received a call the day before from the PM’s office to say we would be mentioned in the speech, and asking us if we were comfortable with that.

“We said yes, and we then received an e-mail including the extract referring to Alder Grange.

“We were given the very clear impression that the speech was locked in, and reference would be made. We would not have agreed unless we were convinced it would be.”

Tom Bevan, a staff reporter on the Western Gazette, said: “We were contacted by the Downing Street press office. They told us that Westfield Community School, one of our schools, would be mentioned in a speech the following day by Gordon Brown.

“They said, ‘One of your schools would be mentioned by the Prime Minister’.”

A spokeswoman for Northumberland Council said: “The school was alerted by the Prime Minister’s office that Astley Community High School would be included in the speech. We were alerted by them, and we issued a press release.”

Perry Austin-Clarke, the editor of the Telegraph & Argus in Bradford, said that Downing Street had told his reporter that the Brown quotes were a draft of the speech.

He disputed the suggestion in yesterday’s Times that the newspaper had been duped by No 10, adding that his paper had treated the quotations more cautiously by saying only that Mr Brown was expected to make the remarks.

“The Downing Street press officer made it clear that Gordon Brown’s comments were in a draft of his speech and there was no guarantee that they would appear in the final version,” he said.

It also emerged that the drafts of the speech that were e-mailed to journalists were nearly identical, except for the name of each school and the reason for its inclusion.

Mr Austin-Clarke said: “This, combined with the fact that we were not told any other school might be mentioned, suggests that the press office’s approach was a cynical attempt at manipulation which, I’m pleased to say, we didn’t fall for.”

Yesterday The Times asked the Prime Minister’s spokesman if he could account for the discrepancies. He replied: “We are sticking by our version of events and have nothing to add to our statements from last night, which we stand by.”

Downing Street said on Monday: “They were identified as local good practice examples working with parents to help drive up standards, one of the key themes of the speech.

“It is absolutely right that the Prime Minister recognise their work, which has gone on to influence national education policy, which he did via supportive quotes given to their local media.”

However, David Laws, the Liberal Democrats’ Education Spokesman, said: “It appears that Downing Street were deliberately misleading both schools and local newspapers – and, sadly, this calculated policy of deceit seems to have continued after the facts came to light.

“I have written to Gordon Brown to ask him to personally intervene to sort this mess out and to apologise to the schools which have been misled and the local newspapers whose journalistic integrity is being questioned in order to hide Downing Street’s shame.”

Chris Grayling, the Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions, said: “Once again Gordon Brown’s team are treating people like fools.

“This is all turning the Prime Minister’s office into a laughing stock and it is extraordinary that they appear to want to spin this issue on this way. It is quite obvious they have messed up – why can’t they just admit it?”

Claim and counterclaim

“We were contacted by the Downing Street press office. They told us that Westfield Community School, one of our schools, would be mentioned in a speech the following day by Gordon Brown”
Tom Bevan, Western Gazette

“We received a call the day before from the PM’s office to say we would be mentioned in the speech, and asking us if we were comfortable with that. We said yes”
Iain Hulland, head of Alder Grange

“The school was alerted by the Prime Minister’s office that Astley Community High School would be included. We issued a press release”
Northumberland Council spokeswoman

“We are sticking by our version of events and have nothing to add to our statements from last night, which we stand by” Prime Minister’s spokesman

“Once again Gordon Brown’s team are treating people like fools. This is all turning the Prime Minister’s office into a laughing stock and it is extraordinary that they appear to want to spin this issue on this way. It is quite obvious they have messed up – why can’t they just admit it?”
Chris Grayling, Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions

“It appears that Downing Street were deliberately misleading both schools and local newspapers”
David Laws, Liberal Democrat education spokesman

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