There were three elements to this attack: first, Dukakis' refusal to compel pubic school teachers to lead students in the Pledge of Allegiance.

CNN: Jeff Greenfield: Party like it's 1988

However, his department recently lost legal action over its refusal to pay the cost of transporting pupils to the Belfast secondary school.

BBC: 'Satellite' Irish language school proposed in Maghera

In a statement the authority said its refusal to sign the document would "in no way" prevent the school becoming an academy on 1 September.

BBC: Moorhead Primary School blames council for academy delay