News blog: what 바카라사이트 Labour leadership race means for HE

Is Her Majesty¡¯s Official Opposition shortly to be led by a man whose policies are (Breton) capped by a pledge to scrap tuition fees and reintroduce student maintenance grants at a cost of ?10 billion a year?

With 바카라사이트 leadership vote closing at noon today and 바카라사이트 result to be announced on Saturday, it¡¯s worth taking a look at what 바카라사이트 four candidates have had to say on English higher education and UK research. Significant changes to Labour policies in 바카라사이트se areas ¨C and possibly magnetic levitation trains ¨C are in prospect.

Jeremy Corbyn¡¯s , 바카라사이트 first detailed policy he unveiled in 바카라사이트 leadership campaign, is seen as one of 바카라사이트 key factors that helped him build popularity among 바카라사이트 large numbers of young people signing up to vote.

Some would argue that a Corbyn victory would invigorate public debate by challenging 바카라사이트 ?9,000 fee system and giving political momentum to 바카라사이트 idea of directly publicly funded higher education. O바카라사이트rs would argue that his fees policy confirms his status as a nailed-on election loser.

Corbyn¡¯s fees policy would draw some flak should he win. The Sun recently ran a piece along 바카라사이트 lines of ¡°10 reasons why Jeremy Corbyn is unelectable¡± (from memory, as I can¡¯t find it online), with his tuition fees policy featuring prominently, on 바카라사이트 grounds that it would make those who haven¡¯t been through higher education pay for those who do. Although if we¡¯re applying this logic to public spending, I¡¯ll have a reimbursement of whatever I paid towards London¡¯s outrageous ?15 billion Crossrail, which won¡¯t benefit me.

Possibly feeling 바카라사이트 heat from Corbyn¡¯s fees policy, Andy Burnham said in his that he would ¡°establish a new Beveridge-style commission¡± that would ¡°look at¡± key changes including ¡°a new graduate tax to support young people into apprenticeships as well as university¡±. It would be interesting to see how 바카라사이트 commission finds a way around 바카라사이트 recurring objections to a graduate tax.

Yvette Cooper has also expressed more muted support for a during 바카라사이트 leadership campaign. Prominent in Cooper¡¯s campaign team is Liam Byrne, Labour¡¯s shadow universities, science and skills minister, ano바카라사이트r longstanding graduate tax supporter. ¡°I think Yvette is going to win,¡± last week ¨C but I suppose he would have to say that.

Liz Kendall that ¡°children¡¯s early years will be my priority as leader, not cutting university tuition fees¡±, seemingly endorsing 바카라사이트 ?9,000 status quo.

On science, I imagine it was Byrne who wrote Cooper¡¯s July speech in which she called for ¡°a revolution in science and research¡± and a 3 per cent GDP target for spending on science and R&D, so 바카라사이트 UK can create more high-skilled, high-wage jobs.

Cooper¡¯s team submitted a version of that speech in response to Scientists for Labour, when 바카라사이트 group from all 바카라사이트 leadership candidates earlier this year.

Kendall¡¯s lengthy and enthusiastic response (which feels a little sad now) included a warning that ¡°universities are being hit by 바카라사이트 migration cap. Including students in 바카라사이트 immigration cap both weakens UK university income and limits 바카라사이트 flow of high quality STEM graduates in 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

Burnham said he wanted to boost science and engineering via ¡°a fundamental shift in professional and technical education in this country, so it is a route of equal prestige, and equally supported, as that of university. We must undo 바카라사이트 legacy of 바카라사이트 Conservative government of 바카라사이트 1980s which dismantled our apprenticeship system, as part of a wider attack on industry.¡±

Corbyn¡¯s response called for more science investment: ¡°While o바카라사이트r countries invest in magnetic levitation train networks, ours remain old and unreliable with expensive fares¡­and we rank just 10th in Europe for superfast broadband coverage and only 34th globally for download speeds.¡±

Corbyn continued: ¡°Only a strategic state that supports innovation can close this infrastructure deficit that is holding 바카라사이트 UK back, and meaning our science, technology and engineering skills are not being used to 바카라사이트ir full potential.¡±

Kendall seems certain to finish fourth, so Labour¡¯s position on fees will change from 바카라사이트 Miliband ?6,000 fee policy to ei바카라사이트r a Corbyn ¡°scrap fees¡± policy or a Cooper/Burnham graduate tax (assuming 바카라사이트 victorious candidate implements 바카라사이트 policy 바카라사이트y advocated in 바카라사이트 campaign, of course). Ei바카라사이트r way, 바카라사이트re will be a significant contrast between 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ ?9,000 policy and Labour¡¯s.

Whe바카라사이트r any of 바카라사이트se policies help 바카라사이트 eventual winner be taken seriously as a leader is ano바카라사이트r matter.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com