More than just a cold shoulder

Rumour has it that senior civil servants, as well as vice-chancellors, are on the shortlist for the post of director-general of higher education at the Department for Education and Skills.

This may not please some at the Higher Education Funding Council for England. If a mandarin is chosen, they are threatening to turn their relationship with the department from hats-and-gloves cold to shivering-in-bed-under-the-blankets frozen.