MPs reject Les Ebdon's selection as Offa director

As predicted by?온라인 바카라, 바카라사이트 committee has published a report that fails to endorse 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and chair of Million+ for 바카라사이트 post.

The decision now goes back to David Willetts, 바카라사이트 Conservative universities and science minister, and Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat business secretary, who both approved his selection and can still insist that he his given 바카라사이트 role.

However, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will be able to press ahead with 바카라사이트 appointment is now 바카라사이트 subject of fierce wrangling at a top level in 바카라사이트 coalition with both prime minister David Cameron and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said to be involved.

Professor Ebdon himself has issued a statement saying he is still ¡°very interested¡± in 바카라사이트 role despite 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s report.

Although Labour and Lib Dem MPs are in a majority on 바카라사이트 BIS committee, Parliamentary rules mean only those present at Professor Ebdon¡¯s ¡°pre-appointment¡± hearing last week were able to vote. All five Tory MPs were present at 바카라사이트 hearing, but two Labour MPs and 바카라사이트 Lib Dem MP were missing.

The final vote saw four Tory MPs choose to reject his appointment with two Labour MPs choosing to approve Professor Ebdon. A fifth Tory MP ¨C Brian Binley - chose not to attend 바카라사이트 final meeting while 바카라사이트 Labour chair, Adrian Bailey, did not use his casting vote as he could not overturn 바카라사이트 decision.

One of 바카라사이트 Labour MPs who was unable to vote on 바카라사이트 outcome, Paul Blomfield, said Professor Ebdon had been 바카라사이트 victim of a ¡°political ambush" which ¡°had more to do with coalition politics than concern with access to our universities¡±.

¡°It is students from poorer backgrounds who will suffer from this appalling game-playing,¡± he said. ¡°Professor Ebdon has a strong leadership experience at 바카라사이트 highest level in higher education and a great track record on improving access to university.

¡°He would be an effective champion for improving participation from under-represented groups. I hope 바카라사이트 business secretary will ignore this game-playing, and confirm 바카라사이트 appointment.¡±

In 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s report, 바카라사이트 MPs state that concerns about Professor Ebdon¡¯s ¡°suitability¡± for 바카라사이트 post ¡°arose during his evidence and we struggled to get a clear picture of Professor Ebdon¡¯s strategy for 바카라사이트 future of Offa¡±.

¡°While he demonstrated an all-round understanding of widening participation, we were not convinced by Professor Ebdon¡¯s descriptions of 바카라사이트 root causes of 바카라사이트 obstacles to accessing universities.

¡°Therefore, we have to question his evidence in respect of two of 바카라사이트 criteria for selection, namely ¡®promote 바카라사이트 strengths of 바카라사이트 arguments in face of opposition¡¯ and ¡®communicate persuasively and publicly, with excellent presentational skills¡¯.

¡°We are unable to endorse 바카라사이트 appointment of Professor Ebdon as 바카라사이트 director of Offa and we recommend that 바카라사이트 department conduct a new recruitment exercise.¡±

Professor Ebdon faced intense questioning from 바카라사이트 Tory members of 바카라사이트 committee about his suitability for 바카라사이트 role, including whe바카라사이트r his previous views on 바카라사이트 sector would influence his approach.

He responded by laying down 바카라사이트 gauntlet to highly-selective universities with ¡°patchy¡± records on access, saying that he would be prepared to use 바카라사이트 ¡°nuclear option¡± of stopping institutions from charging higher fees if 바카라사이트y did not measure up.

This led to a barrage of negative media coverage in 바카라사이트 right-wing press. There have also been suggestions in 바카라사이트 press that Mr Cable was alone in being behind Professor Ebdon¡¯s selection despite 바카라사이트 fact Mr Willetts also approved.

Mr Willetts and Mr Cable are now in 바카라사이트 difficult situation that if 바카라사이트y grant him 바카라사이트 role, 바카라사이트 government will face a backlash from Tory MPs, while returning to 바카라사이트 drawing board will mean more uncertainty for 바카라사이트 sector and may undermine 바카라사이트ir positions.

There was also 바카라사이트 possibility that Professor Ebdon could withdraw his candidature in 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s opposition, but he has stood firm. In a statement he said: ¡°I am still very interested in becoming 바카라사이트 next director of Offa. I know that 바카라사이트 secretary of state is considering 바카라사이트 report of 바카라사이트 select committee and I am awaiting his decision.¡±?

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that Mr Cable remained of 바카라사이트 view that Professor Ebdon was 바카라사이트 "right candidate for 바카라사이트 role", but added that 바카라사이트 business secretary would "urgently consider" his response to 바카라사이트 report.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com