Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Gainsborough, has condemned Ofsted for denying Middle Rasen Primary School its highest rating for a lack of multiculturalism.

“This is political correctness gone mad,” the MP said. “Middle Rasen Primary School is an outstanding school by any standards, and Melonie Brunton is a brilliant headteacher -- I back the school and its head one-hundred percent.”

“Just last week I wrote to Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, objecting strenuously to the new so-called ‘equality’ regulations she is implementing in schools. Conservatives have always stood for freeing our schools from the deadening hand of state-enforced orthodoxy. Why there has been such a massive U-turn under Nicky Morgan is inexplicable to me.”

Sir Edward, one of the most vocal MPs and with over thirty years’ experience in the Commons, added that the demographics of the area don’t justify Ofsted’s criticism.

“Multiculturalism is an irrelevance in Lincolnshire with its low number of ethnic minorities, who are already welcomed and well-integrated into our local communities, as they should be.”