Preferred candidate for OfS chair downplays ‘conflicts of interest’

James Wharton asked how Conservative peer role might affect work as OfS chair

Conservative peer James Wharton, the government’s pick to replace Michael Barber as chair of the Office for Students, has denied that his government links will be a conflict of interest.

Speaking to MPs in the House of Commons education committee on 2 February, Wharton stressed that his current work in the House of Lords would not affect his job as chair of the OfS.