STROUD MP Neil Carmichael has rejected the government’s choice for the new chief inspector of schools.

Speaking on the Today programme this morning he said that MPs on the Education Select Committee, of which he is chairman, were not convinced that Amanda Spielman had the “passion” or “vision” to head-up Ofsted.

Education secretary Nicky Morgan has said she was the ‘best person’ for the job.

But Mr Carmichael told the BBC: “During the session that we had with her two things emerged, one was that she didn’t really have a clear vision about the future of Ofsted.

“Secondly there were some concerns about the way she was thinking about children’s services and child protection.

“It’s necessary to be a champion of improving standards and that just did not come over.”

Asked what Mr Carmichael would have liked to hear he replied that he wanted to know more about her intentions to drive up standards.

“We do need to have some sort of crusading view from the chief inspector and I thought that was lacking and so did all of my colleagues who were there,” he said.

He added that this was especially the case in the light of Brexit.

“We are going to have skills shortages and we will need to increase productivity so it’s very important that we really do get a grip on this,” he said.

However the committee cannot veto Ms Spielman’s appointment if the education secretary decides to force it through.

In a letter to the cross-party select committee Mrs Morgan wrote that she was "surprised and disappointed" but remained "wholeheartedly in support of Amanda as the best person for this crucial role".

Ms Spielman is currently chairwoman of the exams regulator Ofqual.