In conversation with David Lammy MP

The former universities minister called for fairer access to the UK’s elite institutions and says there is no free speech crisis on campuses

Published on

June 10, 2019

Last updated

June 12, 2019

David Lammy, MP for Tottenham and the UK’s minister for innovation, universities and science from 2007 to 2010, has called for a centralised admissions system at elite institutions like Oxford and Cambridge in order to admit greater numbers of black and ethnic minority students.

In an interview with ̽��Ƶ editor John Gill at the recent ̽��Ƶ Teaching Excellence Summit, Mr Lammy also said that although universities “will take some flak” for being forums of free speech, he doesn't “see them as in the pockets of liberal progressives”. And in “the age of populism” Mr Lammy called on academics to "stand brave and tall and communicate quite strongly the dangers that could lie ahead for the global world".

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Reader's comments (1)

#1 Submitted by albertschram on June 10, 2019 - 4:37pm

Times to be brave and stand tall. The insidious belief of a "pure people" and only legitimate power, are rising up against a "corrupt elite" who are helped by complicit academics, journalists, judges and other groups, seems present everywhere. Academics need to speak up and point out the real issues. It is in their own interest. The next generation of populists may be even more untruthful and aggressive.

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