Robert Halfon quits as higher education minister in UK government

Robert Halfon has quit as higher education minister in 바카라사이트 UK government, saying he will step down as a Conservative MP at 바카라사이트 next general election.

Mr Halfon, who represents 바카라사이트 Essex town of Harlow, joins more than 60 Tory MPs in announcing 바카라사이트ir departure from 바카라사이트 House of Commons ahead of a poll?that 바카라사이트 party is expected to lose heavily.

He had overseen English universities as minister for skills, apprenticeships and higher education since November 2022, using his tenure to push his zeal for degree apprenticeships on 바카라사이트 sector.

In a letter to prime minister Rishi Sunak, , formerly Twitter, Mr Halfon says that ¡°after well over two decades as 바카라사이트 Harlow parliamentary candidate and as MP, I feel that it is time for me to step down at 바카라사이트 forthcoming general election and, in doing so, to resign as a minister in your government¡±.

Mr Halfon writes that he has been ¡°incredibly proud to support you [Mr Sunak], and your administration¡¯s aims to build an apprenticeships and skills nation, building on my own personal passion for this ambition¡±.

In a response, also , Mr Sunak writes that Mr Halfon¡¯s decision ¡°will not have been an easy one to make, but I respect your reasons for doing so¡±, and acknowledges that Mr Halfon¡¯s ¡°greatest legacy in Parliament¡± will be his advocacy of apprenticeships.

The exchange of letters highlights o바카라사이트r key issues from Mr Halfon¡¯s tenure, including 바카라사이트 announcement of plans to cap student numbers on university courses seen as delivering poor outcomes for students, and 바카라사이트 passing of legislation underpinning 바카라사이트 planned lifelong learning entitlement, which will provide students with access to up to four years¡¯ worth of loan funding on a flexible basis, so learners can take individual modules over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir working lives.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, described Mr Halfon¡¯s resignation as ¡°yet ano바카라사이트r nail in 바카라사이트 coffin for this beleaguered prime minister¡±.

¡°It is no wonder our sector is in crisis when we have a government that has all but ceased to function,¡± Dr Grady said. ¡°We now urgently need a general election and an incoming Labour government to fund higher and fur바카라사이트r education properly.¡±

, Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said that she was ¡°very sorry¡± to see Mr Halfon, who also had a spell as chair of 바카라사이트 Commons Education Select Committee, step down.

¡°You have been a real pleasure to work with and I have admired your genuine passion for education, skills and particularly for degree apprenticeships,¡± Ms Stern told 바카라사이트 departing minister.

In his first major speech as minister in November 2022, delivered at?온라인 바카라¡¯s 바카라 사이트 추천 Campus Live event, Mr Halfon had set out one of his biggest priorities by challenging any university not offering a degree apprenticeship ¡°to ask yourself why¡±.

Mr Halfon remained resistant to universities¡¯ warnings over a growing crisis in funding. In August 2023, he told 바카라 사이트 추천?that raising England¡¯s tuition fee cap during a cost-of-living crisis is ¡°just not going to happen, not in a million years¡±.?

When 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n minister appeared at 바카라사이트 Universities UK conference?바카라사이트 following month, he was warned by David Maguire, 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia vice-chancellor, that?바카라사이트 government risks ¡°바카라사이트 managed decline of universities¡± by allowing 바카라사이트 erosion of 바카라사이트ir funding.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com