I welcome the Government's decision to axe university privatisation plans

Tuesday 24th January - I welcome today's reports that the Government has axed plans to give for-profit private companies a greater role in UK higher education. The Government's proposed legislation would have opened the door for private companies, including hedge funds and big American education companies, to set up new universities and access taxpayer funding. 

This decision reflects the widespread and growing concern across the education sector about the Government's plans, and from MPs from all political parties. 134 MPs, including former Higher Education Minister David Lammy, as well as ex-Lib Dem leaders Charles Kennedy, Sir Menzies Campbell and current Lib Dem President Tim Farron signed my Early Day Motion on this issue last year which warned against the expansion of for-profit providers in the higher education sector. And in November the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, which I'm a member of, strongly criticised the Government's plans and said that expanding the role of the for-profit sector would introduce a real risk which would undermine the quality and reputation of UK higher education.

If the Higher Education Bill is now going to be scrapped then we need to remain vigilant to any move to introduce privatisation by stealth, without any legislation. I'll still be pushing for a full debate to be held in parliament on the role of the for-profit sector in higher education because the Government needs to clarify its position on higher education reform and its plans to attract US companies to run UK universities.