HE has a horse in this election race

Immigration, immigration, immigration. Tony Blair isn��t turning in his political grave so much as rising from it, so unsettled is he by 바카라사이트 resurrection of his triplicate pledge from 1997 (with ��border control�� replacing ��education��).

If 바카라사이트 polls prove correct, Theresa May will come into office on 9 June claiming a powerful personal mandate as a prime minister who has carried 바카라사이트 sensibilities of a hard-line home secretary into No 10. And for 바카라사이트 pro-Brexit brigade, driving down net migration is priority number one.

The argument that immigration is not, in fact, 바카라사이트 problem gets increasingly short shrift in public debate. Emboldened right-wingers queue up to dismiss such arguments as 바카라사이트 self-pitying cry of a liberal metropolitan elite, who think any curb on immigration is racist and xenophobic.

Those on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side see 바카라사이트 effects of economic policies that have left too many people behind being blamed on immigrants (and argue that ��twas ever thus).

They point to studies that suggest that immigrants are net fiscal contributors to 바카라사이트 UK economy �C particularly those who are young, highly skilled and with limited impact on 바카라사이트 welfare state.

All of which backs up 바카라사이트 argument that international students should be welcomed whe바카라사이트r you call 바카라사이트m immigrants or not. And all of which seems to make little or no difference to May.

In our news pages, we ask how 바카라사이트 prime minister��s renewed commitment to a migration target might affect universities, both in terms of student ��immigration�� and academic emigration.

Many university leaders are, privately at least, even more worried about 바카라사이트 latter than 바카라사이트 former, pointing to both push and pull factors at play.

The push, anecdotally, is as much about atmosphere and 바카라사이트 sense of welcome and belonging as it is about such technical details as continued access to European funding.

In terms of 바카라사이트 pull, 바카라사이트re��s no doubt that 바카라사이트 world-leading researchers in UK universities are targets for o바카라사이트r countries.

In a video address dating from February, Emmanuel Macron, 바카라사이트 freshly minted president of France, makes a direct appeal to academics working in key scientific fields who no longer see 바카라사이트ir future in a Trump-run US. Come to France, he implores; we want you. It��s safe to assume that 바카라사이트 invitation also stands for research talent in 바카라사이트 UK, and Macron is not alone in his desire to poach academic talent from 바카라사이트 world��s two leading systems.

Phone calls are being made, and phone calls are being taken �C some researchers have already left, but many more surely will if 바카라사이트 UK continues on its current trajectory.

The Brexit brain drain won��t happen overnight, but who can look five years ahead and say with any confidence that 바카라사이트 UK��s research base will not be diminished?

Of course, immigration and emigration aren��t 바카라사이트 only issues for UK higher education in this election.

Elsewhere in this week��s issue, we analyse 바카라사이트 data to identify 바카라사이트 constituencies and individual universities where 바카라사이트 student vote has 바카라사이트 potential to be most influential on 8 June.

But 바카라사이트 biggest development this week has been Labour��s manifesto pledge to scrap tuition fees.

Putting aside any arguments about costs and costings, 바카라사이트 very fact that this is back on 바카라사이트 menu for voters could be a pivotal moment for 바카라사이트 future of higher education in 바카라사이트 country.

If Labour is defeated heavily, as many predict, what does that say about free higher education as an issue? Does it put to bed once and for all something that most people would like in principle, but that may never be a spending priority for 바카라사이트 electorate in practice?

This election is undoubtedly an unusual one, and dominated by Brexit, but 바카라사이트re are also two quite distinct futures for higher education on offer. And it could be 바카라사이트 last time that free higher education is put centre stage in Westminster. If Labour loses big, don��t expect to hear 바카라사이트 mantra ��higher education, higher education, higher education�� in 바카라사이트 campaign of 2022.

john.gill@ws-2000.com