Liberal Democrats on Bradford Council have called for the resignation of the district's education chief Councillor Jim Flood over his handling of the school review.

The education committee chairman has been the figurehead for the most important shake-up of schools in 30 years.

Under his leadership, the education authority has backed the move to drop first, middle and upper schools to create a two-tier system which could lead to the closure of 70 schools.

But Lib Dem councillor David Ward said: "People have lost their confidence in both the review process and the objectivity of its decisions.

"The education service needs to be led by someone who has the trust of everyone affected by the review so that faith can be restored in the council".

A motion to council, which meets next week, calling for Coun Flood's resignation, has now been ruled out by lawyers.

They say the motion is too similar to a Tory amendment tabled in March criticising the review. That amendment was lost and council rules do not allow similar motions to be tabled within a six-month period. The Lib Dems are now seeking legal advice.

Coun Flood said: "This is a tactic the Lib Dems employ with tiresome regularity when they can't think of any other way to keep an issue alive. I am surprised these 'Democrats' are pretending to be critical of the most democratic of consultation procedures. Knowledge gathered directly from local people will almost certainly lead to improvements in the final proposals."

Tory education spokesman Dale Smith said: "Jim Flood is merely the mouthpiece for the policy of the entire Labour group. I would be happy to see the Labour group resign en bloc.

"The Labour group has lost the confidence of both parents and staff and education is facing a setback. Coun Flood's removal alone will sadly not restore it."

Headteachers dismayed by the review proposals have also failed to see what purpose Coun Flood's resignation would serve.

Geoff Ensor, of Ryan Middle School, said: "We have got to get past political gestures as much as we have enjoyed the support of the Lib Dems in trying to retain middle schools.

"I don't think anyone who sits over the closure of 70 schools is going to be able to achieve what the Lib Dems want. Anyone who takes on this review is in a no-win situation."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.