London mayor says pupils should do two hours' sport a day as David Cameron defends scrapping of two-hours-a-week target
The London mayor, Boris Johnson, has put himself on a collision course with David Cameron – and all sports-averse children – by suggesting pupils should do "a compulsory two hours of sport every day" to secure the sporting legacy of the London Olympics.
Speaking at a press conference to set out the legacy plans for the Olympic site in Stratford, Johnson said he believed the government shared his passionate belief in the importance of sport, adding: "I hope they will build on the amazing spirit of these Games to encourage participation in schools in London and across the country … I would like frankly to see the regime I used to enjoy, a compulsory two hours of sport every day – that's made me who I am.
Johnson attended the elite public school Eton, as did Cameron.
"I have no doubt that is the kind of thing that would be absolutely wonderful for kids across this country," he said. "I think it is profoundly important for the happiness, for the success of this country that we have more sport in schools."
Johnson's prescription appeared to contradict Cameron, who has defended the scrapping of the more modest target of two hours compulsory PE lessons a week by the education secretary, Michael Gove.
The prime minister insisted on Wednesday that the two-hour-a-week target was a box-ticking exercise and that instead a cultural change was needed to encourage more sport, suggesting teachers should "play their part" by giving up free time to teach competitive sport.
Johnson, who has seen his stock peak during the Olympic Games, triggering mounting speculation that he could one day succeed Cameron, told a press conference that he would like to see Team London volunteers, who have already had criminal record checks, mobilised after the Games to trainchildren in sports.
Tessa Jowell, the shadow Olympics minister, called for cross-party consensus on the Olympic sporting legacy. She also called for the reintroduction of PE taught by properly trained teachers in primary schools, funding to promote partnerships between schools and investment in school sports facilities.
Earlier in the day, Jowell said the same consensus that was created in the national interest to deliver the Games must now be applied to ensure an Olympic legacy that saw every child having the opportunity to play sport.
In a swipe at Gove's withdrawal of the target of two hours a week of compulsory PE, Jowell said such decisions meant the legacy could not be delivered without a 10-year commitment.
She pledged on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that Labour would take part in delivering a cross-party plan "to create that stability that has delivered the Olympics".
"One of the reasons the Olympics have been so successful in their planning and execution is that all the parties have worked together in the national interest, built a national consensus about how to deliver the Olympics. I think that sense of unity of purpose should be applied to delivering this legacy."
Jowell said the 10-year commitment should not only involve the government and local councils but sports governing bodies, the 5 million volunteers working in sport and potential sponsors.
She also said she agreed with Sir Chris Hoy's call for the continuation of funding for elite training.
The cycling gold medallist made his comments after the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said he could not promise funding would continue at its current level.
Jowell's call for action came amid an intensifying war of words between the Conservative party and the teaching unions over school sports. The Tories issued a press release stating: "We mustn't let militant union leaders sabotage school sports."
The teaching union NASUWT said: "They have cut school budgets in real terms, which has reduced the resources available for schools to spend on sport."