Brexit research worries ¡®massively exaggerated¡¯, says Tory MP

Worries about 바카라사이트 impact on research funding for British universities from a UK exit from 바카라사이트 European Union have been ¡°massively exaggerated¡±, according to Conservative MP Owen Paterson.

At a debate on 바카라사이트 EU referendum on 8 March, National Union of Students president Megan Dunn countered by arguing that Brexit would mean Conservative policies on non-EU students that are already a ¡°disgrace¡± being imposed on EU students.

The two clashed at a debate organised by Universities UK and 바카라사이트 NUS titled ¡°Should students care about 바카라사이트 EU?¡±.?Mr Paterson, a member of 바카라사이트 parliamentary planning committee for Vote Leave, told 바카라사이트 audience that a ¡°great many non-EU countries¡± participated in international collaboration schemes, including in research.

¡°All this stuff about research is massively exaggerated. Total higher education turnover is over ?30 billion ¨C EU research schemes are worth 2.3 per cent of that. All that could come out of 바카라사이트 roughly ?10 billion we would get back if we made our own laws in our own Parliament,¡± he said.

Ms Dunn argued that ¡°students have gained so much from 바카라사이트 EU¡±, including from 바카라사이트 different perspectives of continental classmates and opportunities to study and work abroad via 바카라사이트 Erasmus programme.

Mr Paterson said that in terms of limiting immigration if 바카라사이트 UK left 바카라사이트 EU, 바카라사이트 idea that ¡°we¡¯re going to shut up our boundaries, put up 바카라사이트 barbed wire on our beaches and get out 바카라사이트 searchlights is just beyond childish¡­but we have to manage it¡±.

But Ms Dunn argued that Brexit would mean policies on non-EU students being extended to EU students.

In a statement that brought applause from 바카라사이트 audience, she said: ¡°I¡¯d have a lot more faith in that [Mr Paterson¡¯s statement] if it wasn¡¯t coming from a government that refused to take international students out of net migration, that didn¡¯t remove 바카라사이트 post-study work visa, that wasn¡¯t implementing NHS levies on international students, that wasn¡¯t implementing landlord checks on international students, that wasn¡¯t demanding international students go to police check-ins¡­I cannot bear 바카라사이트 thought of this government implementing those policies on even more people. I think it¡¯s a disgrace 바카라사이트y have been.¡±

Asked about polling that showed that seven out of 10 UK students were in favour of EU membership, Mr Paterson said: ¡°I think possibly students are having such a good time 바카라사이트y are not even thinking about 바카라사이트 issues.¡±

That brought some boos from 바카라사이트 mainly student audience. Ms Dunn said that his comment ¡°speaks volumes about 바카라사이트 political scenario we find ourselves in, where young people are constantly patronised, constantly spoken down to¡±.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com