News from Sheffield Labour

Blomfield welcomes reports university privatisation plans dropped

Paul Blomfield MP has welcomed 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.

The Sheffield Central Labour MP has warned against privatisation by stealth and will still be pushing for a debate in Parliament to clarify the Government’s position.

Mr Blomfield, who is Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Universities and a member of the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, has led opposition to the plans in Parliament and tabled an Early Day Motion on this issue last year which warned against the expansion of for-profit providers in the higher education sector. The EDM attracted support from 134 MPs from all political parties, 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.

Paul Blomfield said: “I welcome today’s reports that the Government have shelved their plans for higher education privatisation. This decision reflects the widespread and growing concern across the education sector about the Government’s plans, and from MPs from all political parties.

“If the Higher Education Bill is 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.”

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