Bingo with the lingo

Language was key to the success of education secretary Estelle Morris in gaining money for education in the spending review apparently. Ms Morris deployed new Labour buzzwords to woo the prime minister and socialist semantics to smooth her way with the chancellor after studying their speeches. She told No 10 that education maintenance allowances could help to meet "targets" for "staying-on rates". At the Treasury, she said the allowances "raise attainment" and "close the skills gap between rich and poor". A source told The Times : "It is not a case of either Tony Blair or Gordon Brown being fooled but of each being convinced of the soundness of her plans through the appropriate arguments."