Clampdown on the fat cat chiefs

UNIVERSITIES Minister Jo Johnson yesterday announced a clampdown on vice-chancellors who are paid more than the Prime Minister.

Institutions will have to justify ‘exceptional’ salaries that exceed £150,000 to the new higher education regulator, the Office for Students.

Mr Johnson has asked the OfS – which opens fully in April 2018 – to make sure ‘that exceptional pay’ was ‘justified by exceptional performance’.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Johnson said he wants to stop universities giving enormous pay rises and bonuses to vice-chancellors if students are receiving mediocre service.