EDUCATION minister Tim Loughton yesterday blamed Labour for the coalition’s cuts on Mersey school rebuilds.

His defence of Education Secretary Michael Gove’s axing of the Building Schools For The Future (BSF) programme sparked a furious political row during a 90-minute Westminster debate.

He accused the opposition of playing politics and insisted the previous Labour administration would have also slashed BSF.

He said: “BSF was never, ever going to be delivered by Labour – there was not enough money.”

He also accused Halton MP Derek Twigg of “playing politics” by forcing the debate.

That was greeted with outrage in a chamber equally balanced between Labour and Conservative MPs, but no Liberal Democrats.

The Government’s stance was also undermined by Nottinghamshire Conservative Patrick Mercer who said that, while BSF was not perfect, a generation of pupils and staff were facing a “shambles”.

Mr Twigg claimed the BSF cuts were deliberately targeted on Labour areas, with 26 rebuilds halted in Merseyside, scores more across the North West – and all 10 secondary schools in his constituency.

They include his old school The Bankfield, Widnes; St Chad’s Catholic High, Runcorn; Fairfield High, Widnes; Ss Peter and Paul Catholic College, Widnes; and Chestnut Lodge, Widnes.