Mandelson voices support for £9,000 fees

Former Labour universities minister says removing reliance on public funding was “the right expansion”.

None of the party manifestos will expand state funding for higher education because it would threaten universities’ “long term planning and stability”, Lord Mandelson told Universities UK this morning.

Mandelson warned in his speech: “Of course we have to be concerned about getting the right funding formula, but this is best achieved after consultation and patient deliberation and recognising that there will be pros and cons for any approach with no perfect solution available.”