Making do with Blair

There were grumbles of discontent from one well-connected vice-chancellor about lack of access to Ruth Kelly in the early weeks of her spell as Education Secretary. He told The Times Higher that he had to make do with breaking bread in Downing Street instead.

The same vice-chancellor left his Downing Street liaison with the distinct impression (as reported in The Times Higher recently) that the Blair Government would be receptive to serious lobbying from the sector to lift the fee cap. There were no promises, nothing direct, only nudges and winks. But there also seemed to be a hint that universities would have a more sympathetic hearing than they would if Gordon Brown moved from No 11 to No 10.