The Conservative government is pursuing a ¡°smokescreen¡± approach to cutting the number of people entering English universities, according to Labour¡¯s shadow higher education minister.

Matt Western was speaking at a fringe event at the Labour conference in Brighton on 28 September, on ¡°The future of higher education participation¡±, hosted by the National Education Opportunities Network.

Universities were under ¡°huge pressure on delivery of courses¡± this year from an increase in student numbers, which Mr Western said he was ¡°not sure that is what the government planned or wanted¡±, instead being down to ¡°mismanagement of the pandemic by this government¡±.

But it is ¡°fantastic we have so many more entering the sector¡±, said Mr Western.

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Ahead of the government¡¯s ¡°final response¡± to the Augar review of post-18 education, set to come with the comprehensive spending review on 27 October, Mr Western highlighted potentially threatened foundation year funding and the Uni Connect access programme, which he was ¡°making a claim for in the party ahead of our response to the CSR¡±.

Any government move to lower the loan repayment threshold for graduates ¨C expected as the government seeks to cut the costs of the system ¨C is ¡°going to have huge impacts on social mobility¡±, he warned. ¡°It will mean more costs for women students and those from low-income households.¡±

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Mr Western also said: ¡°All these measures are a smokescreen for wanting to reduce the number of people going into higher education.¡± But the government ¡°won¡¯t say that openly¡±, he added.

On Covid, Mr Western predicted that in universities ¡°case rates of Covid will rocket, as we¡¯ve seen in Scottish universities and we¡¯ve seen in schools¡±.

But ¡°I do believe the sector is better prepared¡± this year, he added, given its experience last year.

Mr Western called for more focus on the introduction of ventilation systems on campuses: ¡°That is something the government needs to get behind.¡±

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Kate Green, Labour¡¯s shadow education secretary, said in her speech to the conference that ¡°despite being overworked and undervalued, despite the chaos of the pandemic, our brilliant education workforce ¨C teachers, leaders, lecturers and early years staff ¨C have stepped up.?And I want to say, on behalf of the Labour party, you have inspired us, and we extend our deepest thanks for all that you have done.¡±?

john.morgan@timeshighereducation.com