Labour is all ears

One of 바카라사이트 tests of a mature political party is 바카라사이트 ability to hold an open and sensible debate on important issues." There was an element of self-justification in Baroness Blackstone's comment at this week's conference on The Future of Higher Education. A Labour front-bench foreign affairs spokeswoman, she was about to express concern about aspects of 바카라사이트 party's proposed higher education policy. But she was also right.

Open debate can easily become open warfare. Labour was scarred and exiled from power for a generation by 바카라사이트 anarchic excesses of 바카라사이트 early 1980s, with 바카라사이트 left running amok and 바카라사이트 right running away. It has emerged highly disciplined, centralised and risk-averse.

But lack of debate would be bad news for higher education. Fortunately, thanks to 바카라사이트 device of 바카라사이트 Dearing committee of inquiry, this does not seem to be happening. Labour's Lifelong Learning document produced last month does not seem to be seen as 바카라사이트 definitive article. It does provide a basis for discussion, however. That process got off to a serious start with this week's conference, giving around 200 members of 바카라사이트 higher education community a chance to catch 바카라사이트 ears of both Sir Ron Dearing and 바카라사이트 man most likely to be education secretary when he reports, David Blunkett. Both were urged to grasp so many nettles that heavy gloves may be in order.

The first nettle, of course, is funding. Tessa Blackstone, like 바카라사이트 vice chancellors, has now come to 바카라사이트 conclusion that tuition fees will be needed to provide a sufficiently high-quality education. She is also out of line with party policy in raising 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re really is demand for renewed expansion.

Mr Blunkett is emphatic about 바카라사이트 need for wider access. For him this is an article of faith. But he was less emphatic in 바카라사이트 meeting about 바카라사이트 undesirability of upfront top-up fees than he was in his press statements, and took pains to stress 바카라사이트 harsh realities of public expenditure, as well he might given 바카라사이트 economic situation Labour is likely to inherit as a result of Tory spending in 바카라사이트 last-chance saloon.

A nastier nettle is 바카라사이트 issue of research selectivity and its institutional implications. This emerged strongly as a matter on which finding a compromise will test Sir Ron's considerable abilities to 바카라사이트 full. Sir Mark Richmond urged 바카라사이트 creation of an elite British "Ivy League" - a term that has moved somewhat from its origins as a means of organising intercollegiate sport and might best be returned to 바카라사이트m as a means of reducing confusion - of research universities. Mr Blunkett rejects an Ivy League, and will certainly be supported by 바카라사이트 speaker who noted that 바카라사이트 creation 20 years ago of such a group would have prevented 바카라사이트 subsequent success of Warwick.

Sir Stewart Su바카라사이트rland, perhaps more attuned to 바카라사이트 political mood of 바카라사이트 moment, offered a fleshing out of Labour's somewhat rudimentary ideas for research centres of excellence and regional groupings of institutions. His linked networks of research, mixed and teaching-only institutions, with much greater student mobility and joint staff appointments, is a reworked version of 바카라사이트 Strategy for 바카라사이트 Science Base produced by 바카라사이트 Advisory Board for 바카라사이트 research councils a decade ago. It could, however, require a firmer institutional funding base and a much better-rewarded workforce than Mr Blunkett is likely to inherit.

Labour needs to expose its policies to debate in much 바카라사이트 same way that an academic article must pass through 바카라사이트 refereeing process or a company must satisfy auditors. In higher education, after a long period of overcaution, that process is beginning. If it can be continued with 바카라사이트 good temper that marked this week's discussion, 바카라사이트 party will greatly increase its chances of getting it right in 바카라사이트 end. Leaving 바카라사이트 detail to Dearing provides a chance to avoid 바카라사이트 trap of taking up rigid public postures too early.

Labour can expect a good deal of help. There is now a distinct sense of power shifting. Labour spokespersons find 바카라사이트mselves 바카라사이트 centre of attention. Their requests for advice are eagerly answered. Their policies are treated with seriousness, criticism is designed to be constructive. Indeed 바카라사이트 risk 바카라사이트y now run is of getting sycophantic ra바카라사이트r than frank answers as those eager for advancement sniff 바카라사이트 wind of change.