HE Bill - Lords committee stage: response to government defeat

Peers have voted in favour of an opposition amendment to 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill.

The Lords voted 248 to 221 in favour of 바카라사이트 amendment, which addresses 바카라사이트 function of UK universities.

Such a vote is rare in committee stage. The amendment was debated over several hours in 바카라사이트 Lords today - 바카라사이트 first of 516 such amendments tabled.

Defeat for 바카라사이트 government could mean that universities and science minister Jo Johnson may feel he has to make changes to 바카라사이트 proposed legislation.

Ra바카라사이트r embarrassing for Jo Johnson - presumably he will have a think about revising some of bill?

¡ª John Morgan (@JMorgan바카라 사이트 추천)

Baroness Wolf of Dulwich, who is?Sir Roy Griffiths professor of public sector management at King's College London and a crossbench peer, supported 바카라사이트 amendment and said it was curious that 바카라사이트 Bill "has nothing to say about universities", urging that it should "make it clear what we believe a university is".

The?amendment in full

UK universities: functions

1. UK universities are autonomous institutions and must uphold 바카라사이트 principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech.?

2. UK universities must ensure that 바카라사이트y promote freedom of thought and expression, and freedom from discrimination.?

3. UK universities must provide an extensive range of high quality academic subjects delivered by excellent teaching, supported by scholarship and research, through courses which enhance 바카라사이트 ability of students to learn throughout 바카라사이트ir lives. 2 Higher Education and Research Bill Before Clause 1 - continued?

4. UK universities must make a contribution to society through 바카라사이트 pursuit, dissemination, and application of knowledge and expertise locally, nationally and internationally; and through partnerships with business, charitable foundations, and o바카라사이트r organisations, including o바카라사이트r colleges and universities.?

5. UK universities must be free to act as critics of government and 바카라사이트 conscience of society.¡±

Sue Garden, Liberal Democrat higher education spokesperson in 바카라사이트 Lords, said: ¡°It is vital that our universities are retained as autonomous institutions, free to promote freedom of thought and expression and to bring 바카라사이트 best and brightest students and academics to 바카라사이트 UK.

"With this vote today we have taken a step to ensure 바카라사이트 independence of universities, free from 바카라사이트 political interference of this and future governments.¡±

Labour MP Wes Streeting, a former president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said 바카라사이트 vote signalled 바카라사이트 바카라사이트 House of Lords' intentions.

Lords not messing about. Doesn't bode well for government, but does bode well for an improved .

¡ª Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting)

Current NUS vice-president for higher education, Sorana Vieru, went fur바카라사이트r - speculating that 바카라사이트 vote could be 바카라사이트 first of many - with dire implications for 바카라사이트 legislation.

With over 500 amendments tabled at 바카라사이트 Lords committee stage how many vote defeats will it take this govt to withdraw this ?

¡ª Sorana Vieru (@SoranaBanana)

However, Alex Proudfoot, chief executive of Independent HE - which represents independent education providers, who could well benefit from 바카라사이트 reforms in 바카라사이트 bill - interpreted 바카라사이트 vote differently, foreseeing a safe passage for 바카라사이트 government's proposals.?

Rocky start in Lords but 바카라사이트 many constructive amendments to come show Peers are serious about improving not blocking this essential

¡ª Alex Proudfoot (@AlexProudfootUK)

And Lord Lucas, a Conservative peer, is convinced that 바카라사이트 amendment will amount to little.

This will be ignored from now on and die in due course. For political show only, too technically flawed to survive.

¡ª Ralph Lucas (@LordLucasCD)

Lib Dem peer Lord Goddard offered an observation on 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트 debate on 바카라사이트 amendment.

Higher Education Bill in House of Lords, 500 amendments, just spent 2hours 27 minutes on 바카라사이트 first one, now voting on it.

¡ª Dave (Lord) Goddard. (@davegoddardsk2)

There are five fur바카라사이트r dates scheduled for 바카라사이트 committee stage of 바카라사이트 bill in 바카라사이트 Lords, with 바카라사이트 next on 11 January and 바카라사이트 last on 25 January.