Dobson revolt on single-faith schools plan

Tony Blair is facing a revolt over his plans to set up more single-faith schools across the country.

Former Health Secretary Frank Dobson is spearheading a rebellion by putting forward a Commons proposal which would make it illegal for school governors to insist that pupils or their parents attend church as part of admissions procedure.

He is saying that new schools should take at least one quarter of their students from other faiths or none.

Mr Dobson said today: "It seems to me not a good idea that we start dividing children on the basis of religion while they are at school."