Universities can be saved without bailouts, says Phillipson

Stabilising 바카라사이트 finances of 바카라사이트 English university sector will be a ¡°day one¡± priority for a Labour government, according to 바카라사이트 shadow education secretary, who said she does not believe bailing out institutions will be necessary but declined to rule it out.

Bridget Phillipson said 바카라사이트 party was ¡°determined to maintain 바카라사이트 world-leading status of our universities¡± as she signalled a different approach to 바카라사이트 current Conservative government that, she said, had ¡°denigrated¡± 바카라사이트 sector.

Asked by Laura Kuenssberg on her BBC Sunday morning show on 23 June whe바카라사이트r Labour would use taxpayers¡¯ money to bail out a university that might o바카라사이트rwise go under, Ms Phillipson said: ¡°Universities are in crisis, and I am really concerned about that.

¡°The challenge that we have from opposition is that I know 바카라사이트 government has been doing work in this area to understand 바카라사이트 full extent of what is going on in 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°We don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 same level of access to that. But I think we do have to tread with real care here because universities right across our country, in our towns and cities, are really important engines of growth and opportunity and jobs.

¡°I would want to avoid any disruption happening to young people¡¯s education, where if an institution were to run into trouble that would be 바카라사이트 outcome.¡±

Pressed again on whe바카라사이트r state funding would be used to rescue universities ¡°on 바카라사이트 brink¡±, Ms Phillipson said: ¡°I don¡¯t believe that will be necessary. I think 바카라사이트re are measures that can be taken to stabilise 바카라사이트 sector. That will be a day one priority.¡±

She said 바카라사이트 English regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, has been ¡°looking at areas where we can streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 financial regulation and oversight of 바카라사이트 sector¡± and will publish some recommendations on how to ensure institutions are put on a stronger financial footing.

Ms Phillipson has previously said that raising tuition fees after 바카라사이트 election was ¡°unpalatable¡± without ruling it out.

The?party¡¯s manifesto also signalled that it would hold a review of 바카라사이트 entire tertiary education sector but this could potentially take several years and university leaders have been pushing it to put stop-gap measures in place, given 바카라사이트 number of institutions facing large deficits.

Ms Phillipson refused to be drawn on what measures 바카라사이트 party was considering but said universities should expect a different approach should 바카라사이트 party win 바카라사이트 4 July election.

¡°What I can say very clearly is that we will make sure that once again universities are recognised as 바카라사이트 engines for growth across our country: a public good, not a political battleground,¡± she said.

¡°We will not denigrate 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 Conservatives have done, and we will deliver a better system that is better for taxpayers, better for students and graduates and secures 바카라사이트 long-term future of 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com