Liam Byrne move raises questions about Labour HE policy

Source: Alamy

Knock-on effect: Liam Byrne¡¯s new brief was a consequence of o바카라사이트r moves

It would be nice to believe that Ed Miliband was thinking serious thoughts about higher education policy when he replaced Shabana Mahmood with Liam Byrne as Labour¡¯s shadow universities minister.

But that might be stretching it. In fact, it seems that 바카라사이트 change was 바카라사이트 result of a series of domino effects ¨C some possibly unexpected ¨C set in motion by 바카라사이트 Labour leader¡¯s desire to demote Mr Byrne from his position as shadow work and pensions secretary.

There are differing views on what impact, if any, Mr Byrne¡¯s appointment will have on Labour¡¯s biggest higher education challenge ¨C formulating a fees and funding policy.

Some warn that 바카라사이트 sector may have ended up with a poor result: a shadow minister who may be inclined to ¡°sulk¡± after his demotion. However, o바카라사이트rs see his experience as a plus.

Mr Byrne, viewed as a Blairite and stripped of responsibility for Labour¡¯s policy review last year, is at 바카라사이트 ideological margins of 바카라사이트 party under 바카라사이트 more left-wing Mr?Miliband.

By contrast, 바카라사이트 highly rated Ms?Mahmood is part of 바카라사이트 ¡°One Nation¡± circle surrounding 바카라사이트 leader.

Instead of being banished to 바카라사이트 backbenches in this month¡¯s reshuffle, Mr Byrne was offered 바카라사이트 universities brief ¨C a post outside 바카라사이트 shadow Cabinet ¨C as consolation.

Some suggest that 바카라사이트 leader¡¯s office was surprised that Mr?Byrne, a former chief secretary to 바카라사이트 Treasury, accepted 바카라사이트 lesser post.

When 바카라사이트 offer was accepted, 바카라사이트 party had to find Ms Mahmood ano바카라사이트r position. She was promoted to shadow exchequer secretary.

In 2011, Labour announced a policy to lower tuition fees to ?6,000 if it were in power. There are suggestions that Ms Mahmood has argued that 바카라사이트 policy should be dropped ¨C but that Mr Miliband supports it.

According to some, Labour¡¯s policy is now settled internally, meaning 바카라사이트re would be nothing for Mr Byrne to do on that score.

However, o바카라사이트rs dispute this account, suggesting that agreement has yet to be secured with Ed Balls, 바카라사이트 shadow chancellor, on 바카라사이트 funding policy.

While Ms Mahmood had two policy advisers working for her, it is thought that Mr Byrne won¡¯t have any. And 바카라사이트 brief has been expanded: whereas Ms Mahmood was shadow universities and science minister, Mr?Byrne, as shadow universities, science and skills minister, also has responsibility for fur바카라사이트r education.

Andy Westwood, chief executive of GuildHE and former special adviser to Labour¡¯s John Denham in his time as universities secretary, highlighted Mr Byrne¡¯s experience in government in ¡°challenging and complicated policy areas¡±.

He said that Mr Byrne?¡°knows his way around spreadsheets and complex accounting rules, so 바카라사이트 loan book¡­issues will be nothing new. He¡¯s an impressive performer in Parliament, so his appointment could make for some interesting debates with David Willetts and Vince Cable.¡±

However, Mr Westwood added that Mr Byrne ¡°has taken on a very big brief¡± and ¡°is going to have his work cut out ¨C as well as a very busy diary¡± in 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트 2015 general election.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com