Nick Raynsford MP has written to Education Secretary, Michael Gove, to express serious concern over the government’s ill-advised decision to cease funding for School Sports Partnerships.

Michael Gove wants to end the PE and Sports Strategy introduced by the previous Labour Government, which transformed school sport and increased children’s participation in a range of sports.

Nick has said, "In the run up to our hosting the Olympic and Paralympics Games when we should be focused on inspiring a new generation of young people through our 2012 sporting legacy, the government’s plans will have a hugely negative impact and will disproportionately affect children from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

In my constituency, events such as the Greenwich Sportathon and opportunities for pupils to participate in a programme of free riding lessons, in the Borough which will host the Olympic Equestrian events in 2012, have had fantastic receptions and are key to inspiring our young people to become actively involved in sport. I have seen the real benefits to young people that playing sport can have for self esteem and improved performance across other areas of life and I strongly urge the government to reconsider the dismantling of support for school sports in the way that has been proposed".