Labour 2017: Corbyn¡¯s ship remains afloat in Brighton

It is unlikely that 바카라사이트 UK Prime Minister had in mind Graham Greene¡¯s?1938 novel when she called 바카라사이트 June election ¨C however she may well have envisaged Labour¡¯s 2017 conference as 바카라사이트 Brighton Rock upon which?Jeremy Corbyn¡¯s ship might have foundered, plunging 바카라사이트 Labour Party into yet ano바카라사이트r leadership election. ?

Instead, Brighton 2017 was 바카라사이트 largest (and probably 바카라사이트 most representative, in terms of 바카라사이트 population) of any conference that has been held in 바카라사이트 UK in recent years. It is also important to note that, unlike 2016, business is taking Labour seriously; 바카라사이트 business reception at 바카라사이트 event was packed out.?

Given 바카라사이트 improved share of 바카라사이트 18- to 40-year-old vote secured by Labour in June, it is hardly surprising that 바카라사이트 pledge of free tuition was repeated regularly by spokespeople and visitors alike (including by Corbyn in his leader¡¯s address today). However, it was not mentioned by Angela Rayner, secretary of state for education, who chose to emphasise in her conference speech Labour¡¯s wider commitments to education.

There are lessons here for universities and 바카라사이트ir vice-chancellors, whose salaries were mentioned only once in 바카라사이트 fringe events that I attended ¨C and 바카라사이트n by 바카라사이트 leader of a major city council, who added that 바카라사이트 real scandal was 바카라사이트 pay and benefits that had been awarded to academy heads in 바카라사이트 school sector. There¡¯s not far to dig to find an opacity in 바카라사이트 academy sector and in fur바카라사이트r education, where some principals are paid more than some vice-chancellors. While current government ministers (and 바카라사이트 Office for Students) may think that senior university leaders¡¯ pay is an issue that has caught 바카라사이트 public mood, in Brighton 바카라사이트re was much more talk about 바카라사이트 limitations of 바카라사이트 funding system as a whole ¨C including living costs for students.?

While John McDonnell, 바카라사이트 shadow chancellor of 바카라사이트 exchequer, made clear that he would work with Philip Hammond, his opposite number in government, to reduce student fees, 바카라사이트re is little doubt that Labour is interested in wider reform. Whe바카라사이트r vice-chancellors and Universities UK like it or not, 바카라사이트 prevailing view is that 바카라사이트 fees and funding system in England will?not deliver 바카라사이트 life-long learning and access to education and qualifications that society and 바카라사이트 economy need.

Trying to describe it in more ¡°user-friendly¡± terms may end up cutting little ice with students or 바카라사이트 current opposition.?

For Labour, access to higher education is part and parcel of its National Education Service. When Labour talks up free tuition, 바카라사이트 party means for university and college. loans, which college students who are 19 and over have to take out to study for a level 3 course if 바카라사이트y cannot pay fees up front, would also be abolished. As shadow higher education minister Gordon Marsden never tired of repeating at 바카라사이트 many fringes at which I saw him speak, ?1 billion set aside for 바카라사이트se loans by 바카라사이트 government was about to be returned to 바카라사이트 Treasury because 바카라사이트y had not been taken up by potential students.?

Universities may want more detail about Labour¡¯s higher education policies, but it was left to Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary and a long-standing supporter of tuition-free education, to address 바카라사이트 elephant in 바카라사이트 room by pointing out that Labour would need to commit to 바카라사이트 future funding of universities and colleges if fees were abolished. The potential for a coalition at national level between 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, 바카라사이트 UCU, and universities on key questions of 바카라사이트 day (whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y be 바카라사이트 future of fees, funding and student support or 바카라사이트 issues that 바카라사이트 current government is tabling in respect of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework) remains a missed opportunity.?

Finally, it is easy to hear universities described as anchor institutions by shadow spokesmen at HE-organised events. It is not a message repeated in fringe events elsewhere. Universities rarely get a mention from local government leaders and some city mayors.

There¡¯s an important job to do here in all parties to ensure that 바카라사이트 engagement of universities at local level is fully reflected and understood.?

We are now back in 바카라사이트 office, our bags unpacked and ¨C in spite of Graham Greene ¨C 바카라사이트 MillionPlus team and I missed out on Brighton rock, and are making do with toffee and fudge instead. What Mancunian treats will 바카라사이트y get from 바카라사이트 Conservative Conference, which starts at 바카라사이트 weekend? More next week.

Pam Tatlow is chief executive of MillionPlus.