MPs unite over plans to axe university funding

MPs today launched a cross-party Commons campaign against Gavin Williamson’s plans to axe London weighting for universities in the capital.

They are opposing the scrapping of the funding, which aims to offset the high cost of living and working in London, from the teaching grant for higher education institutions.

Twickenham MP Munira Wilson challenged Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg over the proposed cut which university bosses have denounced as “levelling down” and say will deliver a £64 million blow to the capital’s higher education centres.

Cabinet minister Mr Rees-Mogg rejected the accusation of “levelling down” London under the policy which Education Secretary Mr Williamson has stressed is part of the Government’s “levelling up” agenda for the country.

Video: Boris Johnson claims aid cuts are in line with the priorities of Britons (PA Media)

Boris Johnson claims aid cuts are in line with the priorities of Britons

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The Commons Leader said: “The London weighting accounts for a small proportion of London providers’ income — less than one per cent of the estimated total for the 2020-21 academic year. The policy is to level up the country; it is not a question of doing anything that is the reverse of that.”

Liberal Democrat Ms Wilson, Tory MP Andrew Rosindell (Romford), Lib-Dems’ Sir Ed Davey (Kingston and Surbiton) and Sarah Olney (Richmond Park), Labour’s Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Streatham), Stephen Timms (East Ham) and John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington), and the Democratic Unionist Party’s Jim Shannon have signed a Commons motion opposing the proposed change which is out for consultation.