Collision averted

Conference delegates agreed to withdraw a controversial motion that could have forced the union to oppose the government's widening-participation plans and refuse to cooperate with the planned access regulator.

The Liverpool AUT motion, an amendment to one put by Leeds AUT on the underfunding of widening participation, said that the union should take a stand "unless immediate and long-term funding is identified". Leeds persuaded Liverpool to withdraw the amendment.

The union, however, warned that plans to widen participation would fail without serious increases in staffing levels.