SOUTHAMPTON should stand up to Prime Minister Tony Blair and oppose more faith schools in the city, say Labour party activists.

As part of the manifesto they have drawn up for Labour councillors ahead of next May's local elections, the party has come out against church schools 'as a matter of socialist principle'.

This is directly against the views of Prime Minister Tony Blair who is all in favour of so-called faith schools - and is encouraging the creation of more across the country.

There are 11 existing Church of England and Catholic schools in the city including Spring-hill Primary in Hill Lane, Holy Family in Millbrook, St Annes Convent in Bedford Place, St George's in Leeside Way, Swaythling, St Marks Junior in Stafford Road, Highfied Primary in Hawthorne Road and Bitterne Junior in Brownlow Avenue.

The document has yet to be fully ratified but at their last meeting, Labour party members backed the opposition of church schools.

Only one member spoke out against the move saying it may anger the city's Asian community.

Other members were adamant it should remain in the blueprint document because they view the schools as 'divisive'.

John Roath of the Southampton Independent Sikh Youth Wing said so-called faith schools should be open to everybody.

Education executive member Councillor Richard Harris said no criticism of existing faith schools was implied by the new policy as they all do an excellent job.

He said: "I am a practising Christian in the city and I have never been convinced that it is the role of faith to run state schools."

Concern that the Labour group at the city council was out of touch with the views of people in the city, prompted the drawing up of the manifesto.

As well as the controversial attack on 'faith schools' the confidential papers also suggest:

Funding schools on the basis of the number of pupils from deprived backgrounds

Scrapping support for events such as the round-the-world yacht race sponsored by Volvo - and putting more money into low key city festivals

The secret document, which is for the eyes of Labour members only, states: "We don't spend enough money in supporting community events like the St Mary's festival. You could fund ten of these every year for ten years for the money the Volvo is going to cost us."