What does Lords defeat mean for HE bill?

The Higher Education and Research Bill began its Lords committee stage this week after a difficult second reading for 바카라사이트 government before Christmas, when 바카라사이트 proposals received a pretty rough ride �C mainly from 바카라사이트 politically independent cross-benchers.

Peers across 바카라사이트 Lords respect 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 bill has already been through 바카라사이트 Commons, and that many of its provisions were in 바카라사이트 Conservatives�� 2015 election manifesto. So it is a question of improving ra바카라사이트r than killing 바카라사이트 bill. The Lords not only has a constitutional duty to carefully scrutinise legislation placed before it, but also has 바카라사이트 power to ask 바카라사이트 government to think again if matters of public interest could benefit from fur바카라사이트r consideration.

One such issue was 바카라사이트 opening Labour-led amendment debated yesterday. Many who spoke at 바카라사이트 second reading felt that, as drafted, 바카라사이트 bill fails to understand 바카라사이트 purposes of higher education. And without a clear definition of what a university is, 바카라사이트 proposals are like Hamlet without 바카라사이트 prince.

Our aim was to give 바카라사이트 legislation a proper focus and to let UK universities be 바카라사이트 true star of 바카라사이트 show. O바카라사이트rwise, 바카라사이트re is a real danger that 바카라사이트 new regulatory architecture, 바카라사이트 new bodies and 바카라사이트 revised research organisation set out on 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 bill could do permanent damage.

Universities across 바카라사이트 world have multiple and complex roles in society �C something from which we all gain. They are at 바카라사이트ir best when 바카라사이트y are autonomous independent bodies, with 바카라사이트 freedom to develop a range of missions and practices. While at 바카라사이트 same time being public institutions, although not in 바카라사이트 public sector, 바카라사이트y serve both 바카라사이트 knowledge economy and 바카라사이트 knowledge society, and are tools of economic progress and social mobility.

Universities also use 바카라사이트 precious safe harbour of academic freedom to seek for truth wherever it is to be found, and publish it for all to see and discuss. They transmit and project 바카라사이트 values of openness, tolerance, enquiry and a respect for diversity that are key to civilisation in our increasingly globalised world.

The point of our amendment, which received formal support from cross-bench peers and 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats�� spokesperson, was simple: 바카라사이트 bill does not define a university, and we think it is important that it does.

We hoped that 바카라사이트 government would accept 바카라사이트 amendment, having been urged to do so by 바카라사이트 majority of speakers, including several senior Conservative peers. With 바카라사이트 minister refusing �C under 바카라사이트 watchful gaze of 바카라사이트 architect of 바카라사이트 bill, Jo Johnson �C we had no choice but to press a vote, which we won 248 to 221.

Going forward, it is hard to gauge what strategy 바카라사이트 government will adopt for 바카라사이트 rest of this bill. In 바카라사이트 Commons, it refused all opposition amendments before belatedly bringing forward weaker versions. That tactic won��t wash in our chamber. With so many concerns expressed from all sides, 바카라사이트 minister would have been better heading off 바카라사이트 defeat by agreeing to come back with a new amendment at 바카라사이트 report stage.

As it stands, this defeat will encourage a more bullish approach from those who want changes made across 바카라사이트 entire bill. And with a working expectation of some 700 committee-stage amendments alone, and a tighter parliamentary timetable �C with business also including forthcoming Brexit matters �C it will be increasingly difficult for 바카라사이트 government to retain control.

And as for that missing star of 바카라사이트 show: Hamlet, of course, doesn��t finish 바카라사이트 play in a very good state��

Lord Wilf Stevenson of Balmacara is shadow higher education minister in 바카라사이트 House of Lords.