Plans to overturn a ban on new grammar schools have been jettisoned by the government.

The plans had been a flagship policy of the Conservative government and were widely supported by many MPs - including backbenchers in the county.

But Prime Minister Theresa May has abandoned the plan after calculating that the policy was likely to be defeated in the Commons and if not there, then in the House of Lords.

There was no reference to the pledge in today's Queen's Speech.

Instead, the Queen said: "My government will continue to work to ensure that every child has the opportunity to attend a good school and that all schools are fairly funded. My ministers will work to ensure people have the skills they need for the high-skilled, high-wage jobs of the future, including through a major reform of technical education.”

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said the decision was the inevitable consequence of parliamentary arithmetic.

But he said that while disappointed by the decision, it might still be possible to make the case for new annexes to existing grammar schools, as has happened in Sevenoaks.

"It's very important that we have a system which provides a good choice for parents and we already have established grammars in Kent. But I think this is just about the fact that the parliamentary arithmetic did not add up," he said.

South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay said that it was more important that the government got the right deal on Brexit.

"We have a good [selective] system here and we wanted other areas to be able to have the same but for me, it is right that Brexit takes front and centre of the programme and if we had gone along with all the other things we wanted, we might not have got it right. We are in the realms of reality. We have a duty to the people to get this right."

However, the campaign group Comprehensive Future welcomed the U-turn. "We are thrilled at this news but evidence highlighted by this debate show the problems selective areas still face."

Despite featuring prominently in the Conservative manifesto, which claimed grammar schools almost completely eliminated the "attainment gap between rich and poor pupils," the policy was deeply controversial.

Last year, more than 30 headteachers from around the county wrote to the Prime Minister to denounce the idea.

They said selection eroded children’s confidence and the system should be scrapped. They argued there was no evidence to support the government’s claim that selection improves standards.

Despite the controversy, a survey carried out on behalf of the KM Group found many voters supported the idea - but at the same time, opposition was hardening.

Our poll revealed that 62% of respondents supported the policy.

However, that was 13% down on a similar poll carried out in 2015.

At the same time, opposition to selection through the 11-plus has appeared to harden, with 26% against compared to 10% in our survey in 2015.

A new grammar school annexe in Sevenoaks is due to open in September after a long campaign by parents in the area whose children were forced to travel long distances to get to a selective school.

The government has also scrapped plans to end free school dinners for infant children, fearing that too could cause a revolt.