London - Former chief schools inspector Mr Chris Woodhead yesterday returned to haunt the government by accusing the Prime Minister, Mr Blair, and Education Secretary Mr David Blunkett of betraying a generation of schoolchildren.
Mr Woodhead, who quit as head of education watchdog Ofsted three months ago, claimed there was a "black hole" at the heart of Labour's education policy and accused ministers of lurching from one initiative to another.
But Mr Blunkett hit back, disclosing the former chief schools inspector had wanted pay cuts for poorly performing teachers, which he said would have sparked a teachers' strike of "universal proportions".