Interesting if true

Our fortnightly digest of facts and rumours from the UK and beyond.

What the Lib Dems really think

Sources close to Simon Hughes tell us that the Access Advocates’ long-awaited report on social mobility in universities will probably call for harder targets than are included in the current regime overseen by the Office for Fair Access. One source cited the example of the number of students from poor families being admitted. In the current OFFA regime, this is not an explicit target. But it is the kind of thing Hughes is set to argue should be included in future when he delivers his report to the Prime Minister—expected shortly. Hughes’ report will form the backdrop to Lib Dem decisions on which amendments to seek to the White Paper as it is turned into legislation next year. Meanwhile, the party’s internal processes are working towards bringing a revised policy to the party’s annual conference for ratification in September 2012.