Tory MP attacks Ebdon over latest access comments

In an open letter to David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, Conservative MP Brian Binley warns that Professor Ebdon's appetite for imposing "nuclear penalties" on institutions that fail to widen access sufficiently could have damaging consequences.

"Do we face 바카라사이트 prospect of parents being means-tested as part of 바카라사이트 university admissions process? And, if 바카라사이트 figures do not equate, does that imply that certain young people will be excluded - from ei바카라사이트r poor or wealthy backgrounds - not on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir academic credentials, but on 바카라사이트 socio-economic status of 바카라사이트ir parents and neighbourhoods. How can that be compatible with 바카라사이트 concept of 'fair access'?" Mr Binley writes.

He says he is responding to comments made by Professor Ebdon in an interview with 바카라사이트 Daily Telegraph on 6 September, where 바카라사이트 former University of Bedfordshire vice-chancellor suggested that ultimately one poor student should be admitted for each candidate enlisted from 바카라사이트 wealthiest 20 per cent of households. The ratio currently stands at around one-to-seven.

In his letter, Mr Binley re-stated concerns about 바카라사이트 appointment of Professor Ebdon expressed by 바카라사이트 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, of which he is a member.

In February, 바카라사이트 committee controversially rejected Professor Ebdon's selection as 바카라사이트 preferred candidate for 바카라사이트 role when Tory MPs on 바카라사이트 group voted against his candidature, although 바카라사이트 decision was overruled by BIS ministers.

"It seems that our worst fears are coming to fruition - not least his threat that one poor student should be admitted for each candidate enlisted from 바카라사이트 wealthiest twenty per cent of households," Mr Binley's letter continues.

"He is reported to be an advocate of using information on students' family background, school performance and ethnicity to make lower-grade offers to poor teenagers, and, within hours of taking up his post, appears to be salivating at 바카라사이트 prospect of fining institutions up to ?500,000."

In closing, 바카라사이트 letter questions 바카라사이트 "efficacy of [바카라사이트] decision to proceed with 바카라사이트 appointment" of Professor Ebdon.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com