By Justin Parkinson BBC News Online at the NUT conference in Harrogate

The education secretary "cannot cope" with disagreement, the leader of the biggest teachers' union has claimed.

Doug McAvoy says the government should listen to teachers

National Union of Teachers general secretary Doug McAvoy attacked Charles Clarke over his handling of schools funding and plans to allow classroom assistants to take lessons.

Mr Clarke had "put himself and his government, and even his civil servants, into denial".

Mr McAvoy's comments came after the education secretary refused to attend the NUT's annual conference in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

He claimed the 10 minutes allotted to speak was not enough to convey his message.

'Creeping McCarthyism

But Mr Clarke's Conservative and Liberal Democrat counterparts - Damian Green and Phil Willis, both addressed the conference.

Mr McAvoy said: "Charles Clarke complained about having only 10 minutes.

"His Conservative and Liberal Democrat colleagues were only too grateful and used them skilfully.

"Some of his predecessors would have given their eye-teeth to have less."

Mr Clarke is currently believed to be on holiday.

The government has come in for severe criticism during the NUT conference.

Its members have voted for a boycott of Sats - the tests taken by seven, 11 and 14-year-old pupils in England.

It has also debated industrial action over the government's workload agreement, which will allow "higher-level" classroom assistants to teach classes.

Mr McAvoy said: "Democracy is not just about voting. It is about how governments work, about working with independent organisations, about trade unions agreeing, or agreeing to disagree."

He accused the government of a "creeping McCarthyism...a sinister lack of tolerance and a rejection of democracy at the heart of government".