The former NI Civil Service chief (left) says David Cameron's party has " got itself into a ridiculous situation" over the grammar school/academic selection issue.

He says there is no denying that its change of policy in England has undermined the case for preserving academic selection in Northern Ireland.

The Conservative Party has been split by the flip-flop on grammar schools announced by David Willetts, the Shadow Education Secretary.

Mr Willetts stunned Tories by saying a Conservative government would not create new grammars in England, but would instead continue Tony Blair's reforms by expanding sponsored city academies, where pupil intake is not decided by academic selection.

What has really stung supporters of academic selection in Northern Ireland are comments by Mr Willetts and party leader David Cameron arguing that grammar schools are socially divisive and do not aid social mobility.

Mr Cameron believes middle-class children dominate the grammar school intake, shutting out children from poorer backgrounds.

And Mr Willetts told the CBI: "We must break free from the belief that academic selection is any longer the way to transform the life chances of bright poor kids.

"We just have to recognise that there is overwhelming evidence that such academic selection entrenches advantage, it does not spread it."

Sir Kenneth, chair of the pro-academic selection pressure group, Association for Quality Education, believes the senior Tories have supplied ammunition for opponents of academic selection in Northern Ireland.

"We don't kid ourselves," said Sir Kenneth.

"Opponents will seize on comments by Mr Willetts and Mr Cameron accepting that grammar schools are socially divisive."

He believes the arguments put by the top Tories are superficial and are based on the intake of pupils to the surviving 164 grammar schools in England, which are based in Tory controlled middle-class areas.

"The situation is very different in Northern Ireland where we have grammar schools right across the country rather than in just a few areas," said Sir Kenneth.

He said the Tory Shadow Northern Ireland spokesman David Lidington had been a "tremendous ally" to the campaign to preserve academic selection here.

Mr Lidington has stressed he will continue to support academic selection Northern Ireland.

But the words of his party leader Mr Cameron - "parents fundamentally don't want their children divided into sheep and goats at the age of 11" - are unlikely to help his cause.

Said Sir Kenneth: "The Conservatives have got themselves into a ridiculous position."