HE: a fast track to success

For months, the Liberal Democrats could not find anyone to champion higher education despite their eagerness to make their stance against top-up fees a trump card. But now, everyone will want the job.

Weeks after being unveiled as Lib Dem Higher Education Spokesperson, mild-mannered Tim Farron has leapfrogged to become Parliamentary Private Secretary to the party's leader, Sir Menzies Campbell. Let's hope that Stephen Williams, one of the new intake of Lib Dem MPs who has taken over Mr Farron's old post, will stay long enough to formulate some policy.