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King’s speech; don’t forget the students

With the opening of a new parliament and the King’s speech this week, there are high expectations of the thirty-five bills likely to be announced.  However, the low profile of students and Higher Education in Labour’s election campaign and manifesto…

Universities and students: what’s inside the cabinet?

After a landslide win last week, the new Labour administration has wasted no time in getting off the blocks. The new cabinet and ministerial teams have been announced in record time over a weekend and started to take action. This will…

Optimism and ‘change’

Today brings a rejuvenating era of change and optimism. The new Labour administration in the UK has to shake off the past blunders of government and renew the economy. There is little money left to work with and only economic…

Polling day looms: the only Higher Education promises that matter are Labour’s

With postal voting well underway, the time is right to look across the main party manifestos to see what might be in store for universities and students. It’s a mixed bag with little revealed about what it will cost and…

The Monster Raving Loony Party Manicfesto promises change: loose change

The Monster Raving Loony Party (Loony Party) is fielding twenty-four candidates across England in the upcoming election.  They provide a genuine choice for the increasing number of voters totally disillusioned with all of the main parties. Those deciding not to…

SNP manifesto: Shush, don’t mention education

The Scottish National Party (SNP) manifesto ‘A Future Made in Scotland’ was launched earlier today in an unoccupied office block in Southwest Edinburgh. The upfront priority is ‘independence’, education is ignored.  It’s a sad reflection on the proud Scottish education…

Scottish Labour manifesto: joined at the hip

The Scottish Labour manifesto was launched today by a confident Anas Sarwar. There were no real surprises and it is clear that Scottish Labour and the wider Labour Party are ‘joined at the hip’ on nearly all policies.  But Higher…

Manifestos at either end of the political spectrum

The manifestos of the two main alternative parties at the extreme ends of the political spectrum are gaining some support from voters. Both are driven by the egos of populist leaders, despite targeting different demographic groups. They should be taken…

Labour manifesto reveals a bold plan for universities

At first sight the manifesto offering was tepid on student and university finance. This is indeed surprising given public statements made by the shadow education secretary and the shadow universities minister in the last year. However, there are encouraging statements…

Conservative manifesto reveals more of the same

The Conservative manifesto released yesterday came as no surprise. It merely reinforced the tax cutting agenda but raised the question about how the plans would be funded. The further cut to National Insurance follows the planned path to abolishing it…