Those who aren't taught history...

are doomed to repeat it. Winston Churchill has been dropped from British education curriculum. Is this multiculturalism run amok or do they feel he just wasn't that important? Do the impacts of Hitler, Gandhi, Stalin or Martin Luther King mean nothing? They have also been removed from the curriculum. Are they taking crazy pills? Each of them had a big impact on the 20th century and their shadow looms large across our future.

A spokesman for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority said the new curriculum, to be taught from September 2008, does not prescribe to teachers what they must include.

But he added: "Teachers know that they need to mention these pivotal figures. They don't need to be instructed by law to mention them in every history class.

"Of course, good teachers will be teaching the history of Churchill as part of the history of Britain. The two are indivisible."

Sir Winston's grandson Nicholas Soames, also a Conservative Member of Parliament, described the move as "madness."

"It is absurd. I expect he wasn't New Labour enough for them ... this is a Government that is very careless of British history and always has been.

"The teaching of history is incredibly important," he added.

"If you're surprised that people do not seem to care that much about the country in which they live, the reason is that they don't know much about it."

The History Curriculum Association said it was "appalled" by the move, saying the new curriculum would "promote ignorance" and was pandering to a politically-correct agenda.

The Conservatives' schools spokesman Michael Gove added: "Winston Churchill is the towering figure of 20th century British history.

"His fight against fascism was Britain's finest hour. Our national story can't be told without Churchill at the centre."