Hughes’ social engineering crusade

No wonder some backbench Tory MPs are apoplectic: courtesy of David Cameron, Simon Hughes has been elevated from soapbox to pulpit. Hughes’ first statement as the government’s university access adviser is to suggest that universities should limit their intake of students from private schools. He told the Guardian:

‘I think my message to the universities is: You have gained quite a lot in the settlement. Yes, you’ve lost lots of state money, but you’ve got another revenue stream that’s going to protect you. You now have to deliver in turn. You cannot expect to go on as you are. It has failed miserably.’ 

 Hughes’ appointment was controversial, another instance of well qualified, determined and loyal Tories being denied preferment to placate Lib Dem egos. The thought of the man derided as ‘the oiler’ holding forth with impunity would be bad enough to most who have been overlooked; that he is advocating social engineering to mask secondary education’s failings is unconscionable.