A decision over whether to open Britain ’ s first ‘ new ’ grammar school in 50 years has been shelved until after the election , it emerged last night . The proposal for an ‘ annexe ’ to an existing grammar school in Sevenoaks , Kent , is currently being considered by the Education Secretary Nicky Morgan . She is awaiting legal advice and was expected to rule on the matter before the election . But last night a Downing Street source said : ‘ I do not think there ’ s going to be a decision on it this side of the election. ’ Last month , the Prime Minister said he strongly supported the right of 'good ' schools – including grammars – to grow . And if Labour is elected in May then the scheme would almost certainly fail to get the go-ahead . The Tories would probably need an overall majority rather than a Coalition to give the plan a chance of being rubber-stamped . The delay will cause dismay among Tory backbenchers and last night threatened to overshadow an announcement the Prime Minister is due to make today about the Government ’ s flagship free schools programme . Mr Cameron will announce that the Tories will continue opening free schools – which are independent of local authority control . They hope to set up 500 new free schools over the next Parliament and 270,000 new school places if re-elected . Mr Cameron will go on to say that 49 free schools will open in September , adding : ‘ If you vote Conservative , you will see the continuation of the free schools programme at the rate you ’ ve seen in the last three years. ’ The proposal for a grammar school annexe comes from Weald of Kent Grammar School in Tonbridge which wants to open a campus nine miles away in Sevenoaks . In 2013 the plans were rejected by the Department for Education on legal grounds . New grammar schools are banned , but there is backing in the Cabinet for expanding existing schools . And last month Mr Cameron spoke of his enthusiasm for allowing good grammar schools ‘ to expand ’ , in what was seen as an indication that he backed the new plan . However the issue is seen as hugely divisive , so it is believed that election chiefs want to avoid it coming up during the campaign . The Education Secretary Nicky Morgan was preparing to give the go ahead to the new school for girls in Sevenoaks , Kent . The party was previously convulsed by a row over grammars in 2007 . At the time , Mr Cameron called them an ‘ albatross ’ , insisting there was a ‘ hopelessness ’ about calling for new grammars . The party ’ s Europe spokesman Graham Brady ended up resigning over the row . Last night Mr Brady said : ‘ This annexe is clearly wanted by local parents and by Kent County Council . 'The bid has been with the department for months and there is no reason why it can not be dealt with immediately. ’ Free schools raise standards at poorly performing local schools , research has shown . According to think-tank Policy Exchange , the increased competition improves results across communities . George Osborne is considering a pre-election tax cut for 27million voters in the Budget . It would increase the amount workers can earn before they begin paying income tax by at least £200 . The income tax personal allowance of £10,000 is to rise to £10,600 in April . But the new increase would take thousands more people out of tax altogether and make the allowance almost £11,000 . Labour Treasury spokesman Chris Leslie said : ‘ George Osborne raised VAT and cut tax credits for working people , while giving millionaires a huge tax cut . This Chancellor gives with one hand but takes much more with the other. ’ Next week ’ s Budget will also give details of a crackdown on loopholes used by multinationals to avoid tax . It could force firms such as Google and Amazon to reveal all overseas earnings .
Kent was preparing to give go ahead to new school in Nicky Morgan . But she is being blocked from making announcement until after polling day . Number 10 does not want any distraction from the economy in campaign .