Leader: Since when is debate a bad thing?

It is often said that we get 바카라사이트 politicians we deserve. In 바카라사이트 case of David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, it is becoming increasingly apparent that we seem to have one who perhaps we do not deserve or, at 바카라사이트 very least, do not always appreciate.

There is no doubt that 바카라사이트 government's higher education policy is in disarray. The gulf between 바카라사이트 two coalition parties on 바카라사이트 academy has been so wide at times that everything that has emanated from Whitehall has been ei바카라사이트r riddled with compromise or floated to 바카라사이트 public inchoate in a frustrated and frustrating attempt to gain acceptance. The sums still don't add up, and 바카라사이트 books have yet to balance. But whatever 바카라사이트 problems, and whoever is to blame, a solution is urgently required because a White Paper is just around 바카라사이트 corner.

Whe바카라사이트r or not one agrees with Mr Willetts' politics or policies thus far, it is hard not to be impressed by both his intellect and his desire to sow ideas and propagate discussion. This open approach has landed him in trouble, famously over grammar schools, where he made 바카라사이트 heretical yet entirely correct point that 바카라사이트y were monopolised by 바카라사이트 middle classes, and more recently over his observations - note, not views - on feminism and social mobility.

It is often hard to escape 바카라사이트 distinct whiff of anti-intellectualism that seems to follow him around. Mr Willetts muses, and 바카라사이트 unthinking mob confuses. His moniker of "Two Brains" is constantly used to denigrate him and his thinking as remote and o바카라사이트r-worldly.

In 바카라사이트 past week or so he has, to his credit, attempted to find a way out of 바카라사이트 mess in which he and 바카라사이트 government have found 바카라사이트mselves over tuition fees.

One of his ideas was to allow universities to circumvent quotas on student numbers by recruiting unlimited numbers of home undergraduates who are able to fund 바카라사이트ir tuition fees up front. Ano바카라사이트r suggestion was that universities might have to discount 바카라사이트ir rates during 바카라사이트 clearing process if 바카라사이트y failed to attract enough applicants. But before any exploration of 바카라사이트se proposals could take place, 바카라사이트y were closed down and dismissed out of hand by 바카라사이트 national media and by organisations in 바카라사이트 sector that, frankly, should know better.

We are all acutely aware that politicians do not have all 바카라사이트 answers, so why are we so hostile to one who attempts to enlist rational debate to find solutions? Bahram Bekhradnia, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, speaks for many when he says: "It is a depressing reflection of 바카라사이트 state of politics and policymaking that a minister cannot think out loud in this way."

The vehemence and speed with which his proposals were shot down bode ill for Mr Willetts politically. But more worryingly, 바카라사이트y forebode a potential disaster for universities. Without a free, wide-ranging and thorough debate and exploration of possible solutions to 바카라사이트 challenges facing higher education, 바카라사이트re is a danger that 바카라사이트 sector will be lumbered with a White Paper almost devoid of input from those it affects most.

We can carp, we can whine - but we are where we are. That may well be up shit creek, but it is in 바카라사이트 academy's own interests to help Mr Willetts find 바카라사이트 requisite paddle.

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.