Greening ‘blocked tuition fee cuts’

May’s former chief of staff criticises sacked education secretary’s opposition to reform

THERESA MAY is free to carry out reform of tuition fees after she sacked the two ministers who blocked her plans, her former chief of staff says today.

Nick Timothy says Justine Greening, the former education secretary, opposed plans for a review to cut fees, forcing the reforms into the long grass.

The Prime Minister sacked her earlier this week, prompting Ms Greening to leave the Government altogether in protest at being offered another job. She was replaced by Damian Hinds.

Alongside Jo Johnson, the former universities minister, Ms Greening had refused to back a review that could have allowed universities to charge varying fees to increase competition.

Mrs May announced a watereddown rethink on the eve of the party’s annual conference last year, but after fierce opposition from her two ministers the plans were later dropped.

Other ideas then being considered included a cut to interest rates on student loan repayment. This could now be revived.

Writing in this newspaper, Mr Timothy, formerly one of Mrs May’s closest advisers, welcomes Ms Greening’s sacking, claiming she “put the brake on policies that work” and made life difficult for civil servants.

He warns that without a proper review of university fees, life chances will not improve for young people because of “institutionalised snob- bery” against those who do not go on to further study.

Mr Timothy says: “Greening blocked proposals to reduce tuition fees and refused to hold a proper review of tertiary education... hinds must be brave enough to do just that, to ensure universities are better, fees are lower and young people get the technical or academic education that suits them.

“He is already touted as a potential Prime Minister: if he gets this right, he will be a convincing candidate.”

Mr Timothy denies that he orchestrated Ms Greening’s sacking, but he highlighted the appointment of Mr Hinds as “the bright point in an otherwise limited set of changes”.

Mrs May is understood to be keen to reset her domestic agenda in an attempt to switch focus from Brexit. Higher education is one issue she believes the party must focus on after Labour’s success among young voters at the general election, much of which was attributed to Jeremy Corbyn’s pledge to scrap tuition fees.

Mrs May made it her mission to improve the lives of those who are “just about managing” when she entered No10 in 2016, pledging to increase social mobility and tackle inequality. She is said to see education as key.

Mr Johnson’s replacement as universities minister, Sam Gyimah, has a background in education and is understood to be less opposed to change.