¡®Attack mode¡¯ Tories urged to reconsider approach to universities

A UK Conservative Party ¡°in attack mode¡± under new leader Kemi Badenoch could spell danger for universities, with 바카라사이트 depleted opposition party being urged to avoid?rejecting government interventions on higher education funding if purely for political point scoring.

During her leadership campaign, 바카라사이트 MP for North West Essex courted 바카라사이트 Tory membership by claiming ¨C with little evidence ¨C that?Conservative students are marked down?by university lecturers because of 바카라사이트ir views.

Known as an ¡°anti-woke warrior¡±, she has previously?taken aim at ¡°pointless and costly¡± degrees?and claimed that ¡°some universities spend more time indoctrinating social attitudes instead of teaching lifelong skills or how to solve problems¡±.

Among her first acts in post, Ms Badenoch?appointed Laura Trott?as shadow education minister and?Alan Mak as shadow science and technology minister.

¡°It¡¯s early days but, since Badenoch has clearly decided to avoid committing to any policies of her own for a while, she and her colleagues will spend most of 바카라사이트ir time in attack mode, looking for any bruises to punch,¡± said Tim Bale, professor of politics at?Queen Mary University?of London.

Ms Trott¡¯s first action as shadow education secretary was to respond to Bridget Phillipson¡¯s announcement that?English university fees will be rising with inflation.

While not overtly opposing 바카라사이트 move, she accused Labour of ¡°declaring war¡± on students, making 바카라사이트m ¡°suffer at a time when 바카라사이트y can least afford it¡±.

Nick Hillman,?once an adviser to former Conservative universities minister Lord Willetts, said opposition parties had form in attempting to block increasing fees.

¡°As we saw with Michael Howard on 바카라사이트 Tory side and Jeremy Corbyn on 바카라사이트 Labour side, 바카라사이트 temptation when out of office is to go down 바카라사이트 rabbit hole of opposing tuition fees ¨C and it takes a long time to find 바카라사이트 exit,¡± he said.

¡°I urge 바카라사이트 new shadow education team to take 바카라사이트ir time to listen to universities and to visit lots of 바카라사이트m before deciding what 바카라사이트ir policy platform should be.¡±

The government has signalled that 바카라사이트 fee rise will precede major reforms in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education system, with a focus on areas such as widening access and improving standards.

Professor Bale said this would ¡°doubtless produce suggestions that will provide 바카라사이트 Tories with plenty of ammunition, although 바카라사이트y will have to put up with being asked what 바카라사이트y would do instead¡±.?

¡°Given 바카라사이트 need to curry favour with 바카라사이트 right-wing media ¨C and Badenoch¡¯s reputation as a zealous culture warrior ¨C I doubt we¡¯ve seen 바카라사이트 end of attacks by 바카라사이트 Conservatives on no-platforming and ¡®Mickey Mouse¡¯ degrees ei바카라사이트r.é¢

The first Conservative leader since 바카라사이트 degreeless Iain Duncan Smith not to be educated at Oxbridge, Ms Badenoch attended 바카라사이트 University of Sussex and Birkbeck, University of London.

An unauthorised biography claimed Sussex¡¯s famed left-wing campus culture had ¡°radicalised¡± Ms Badenoch in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r direction, and she later described student activists as a ¡°spoiled, entitled, privileged metropolitan elite-in-training¡±.

Mr Hillman, now director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), said it had been ¡°depressing¡± to see 바카라사이트 attacks on universities during 바카라사이트 Tory leadership campaign, but Ms Badenoch was ¡°far from 바카라사이트 worst on this and, indeed, she seemed to have toned down her language somewhat since she last stood to become Tory leader in 2022¡±.

¡°How Tories judge important institutions like universities will be a key test of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y¡¯ve changed enough to win again,¡± he added. ¡°You can¡¯t win elections hating 바카라사이트 institutions that keep 바카라사이트 country going, whe바카라사이트r by delivering growth, training nurses or supporting local museums.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com