ALTRINCHAM and Sale West MP Graham Brady has resigned from the Tory front bench over an internal party row about grammar schools.

Mr Brady stepped down as Europe spokesman after he was severely reprimanded' by the Conservative's chief whip, Patrick McLoughlin, for his outspoken backing for grammar schools.

Former Altrincham Boys' Grammar pupil Mr Brady said "duty and conscience" had compelled him to act.

He told Messenger he had resigned "because it was made clear to me I could not speak outside my brief, even on a subject which is very close to my heart and I have campaigned on all my life."

He added: "Given the choice between a front bench job that I love and speaking in support of an excellent school system we have in Trafford, as a matter of duty and conscience I felt I had to resign."

Mr Brady was reprimanded and told to "stick to his brief" after he released data to a national newspaper at the weekend which he claimed showed areas with selective schools achieve better GCSE results.

In areas with no selection, 42.6 per cent of GCSE pupils get five or more A* to C grades in subjects including maths and English. This rises to 46 per cent in partially selective area and 49.8 in wholly selective areas.

The row in the Conservative Party began when the shadow education secretary, David Willetts, signalled a shift in the party's traditional support of academic selection by claiming it was unfair to poorer families and limited social mobility.

Mr Brady continued: "Locally I have had great support from my association, from Conservative councillors and constituents.

"I have received letters of support from all over the country."

He would now concentrate on being a good constituency MP, a role that is a "great privilege."

cgriffin@messengergrp.co.uk