BARONESS Estelle Morris, the former Education Secretary, is to reveal what really happens in the corridors of power and whether politicians interfere too much in education in a North-East lecture.

In her Sunderland University lecture 'Where Politics Meets Education' the Labour Peer is to look at the relationship between education and politics, especially now schools and universities are facing a period of unprecedented change.

Since the Coalition Government came to power in 2010, the public has seen the academy programme expanded across all schools and tuition fees at universities increased.

In a more recent development, Michael Gove, the current Education Secretary has performed a dramatic U-turn today on his own GCSE and English Baccalaureate certificate reforms.

Baroness Morris was the Secretary of State for Education in 2001. She joined the House of Lords in 2005. The lectures, which are free to the general public, aim to inform and stimulate debate, as well as entertain.

Baroness Morris will be speaking in the Murray Library Lecture Theatre, Chester Road, Sunderland on Thursday February 21.

Guests are asked to arrive at 6pm - for a 6.30pm start.