But although the Tories may have put clear blue water between themselves and Labour over tuition fees, academics shouldn't expect higher education to be a central plank of Conservative electioneering. One senior Tory, close to the leadership, confided that crime, immigration and tax were far more likely vote winners and would be the keynotes of their campaign. The last Times Higher poll suggests that it is a sensible ploy, as the Liberal Democrats appear to be way out in front of the other parties when it comes to securing the campus vote.