An unfair deal

Universities miss out on funds

IT IS impossible to understate the harm suffered by our region over generations by the northsouth divide in funding and investment.

This has held our economy back, undermining efforts to develop the full potential of businesses and create jobs.

All of which makes it deeply concerning that this damaging divide extends to our universities, which despite being world-class centres of learning and research are not receiving a fair share of investment compared to their counterparts in the south.

This is a completely unacceptable state of affairs that must end, especially given the current fragility of this region’s economy which is at risk of further serious harm because of the pandemic.

There is simply no justification for universities in Yorkshire and the wider north to be missing out on £1.6bn a year in research and development funding, the lion’s share of which goes to London, Oxford and Cambridge.

As Sir Chris Husbands, chair of Yorkshire Universities, rightly points out this is exacerbating the north-south divide, undermining education and depriving young people of chances to build rewarding futures at a time when such opportunities are needed more than ever.

If our region is to prosper in the years ahead, education must be at its heart as we build a knowledge-based economy. That cannot happen if universities are unfairly starved of funds.

Boris Johnson came to office promising to level up the economy. If that pledge is to be taken seriously, he must give our universities – and their students – the investment they need.