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Labour conference: Call to axe half of universities
Closing half of Britain's universities is among the radical ideas being considered by Labour leader Ed Miliband, his policy adviser says.
Lord Glasman - self-styled creator of the "Blue Labour" philosophy - made the claim at a fringe meeting at the Labour conference in Liverpool.
He believes the UK no longer "honours" skilled work, and wants to cut the number of academic institutions.
They could be replaced by vocational colleges, suggested the Labour peer.
He initially insisted the idea had been rejected by Mr Miliband but later suggested it was "part of an ongoing conversation", though not one he expected an announcement on soon.
Labour is in the middle of a two-year policy review, which famously began with a "blank sheet of paper".
"You put the dentists and the doctors and the accountants in the vocational colleges and I think that would deal with the class issue," said Lord Glasman.
The peer, who is a university lecturer and describes Blue Labour as a mix of patriotism and populism, is said to be a regular visitor to Mr Miliband's office.
He described the Labour leader, whose Marxist father was a university lecturer, as "socialist and an intellectual" with an "angry insurgent side".
At a Labour conference fringe event, he said Mr Miliband has a "very strong idea of how the market humiliates people" and called for more "constraints" on the domination of the rich.
Among the other ideas championed by Lord Glasman was greater trade union representation on company boards - but he also criticised how much time unions currently spend representing bad workers.
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Comment number 116.
Joe27th September 2011 - 14:52
This is a Good idea.
Having completed a number of Level 3 (A-level) Professional qualifications and currently looking at a further Level 4 (Degree equivalent) qualification I can say one thing - the people on these courses are committed and VERY focused. There is no "After Uni I think I'll try etc", no FLUFFY coursework! Instead its several hours of exams where anything less than 80% = FAIL!
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Comment number 114.
Joe27th September 2011 - 14:31
This is a fantastic idea.
"Poorer people" in society work rather than continue with their education because of the more immediate need for a salary! What needs to be available to ALL is EQUAL opportunity to receive a higher education. Professional studies courses, offering RECOGNISED degree level qualifications, can be promoted with tax concessions being granted to offset any Employer investment.
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Comment number 84.
yorkshiremum27th September 2011 - 12:36
I fully agree with cutting university places and degree courses. However, you have to offer a viable alternative. Technical Colleges [call them Technical Universities], Apprenticeships, Further Education 'Universities' etc. Then students will find their course in the most appropriate setting and business will have appropriately educated workers.
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Comment number 61.
melilititic27th September 2011 - 9:39
Polytechnics became universities in 1992 under a Tory government (Secretary of State for Education, Kenneth Clarke). Reducing the number of universities will only work if sufficient funding for teaching and research comes to those that remain. Universities have been underfunded for decades. The new fees arrangement just pass the current inadequate provision from all taxpayers to graduates.
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Comment number 56.
musictechguy27th September 2011 - 9:24
Universities are the life blood of the UK. It's all well and good people saying that too many people go to universities until it's time for their son/daughter/niece/nephew/God-son/daughter to go, and then find that they can't afford it or can't get a place.
Having worked in America and Canada, I can't believe how short-sighted the British are. Universities are a great British industry and export!
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