Million Plus

Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Universities Minister has left his post as Universities Minister and announced that he will stand down at the next election.

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think-tank million+ said:

“David Willetts was one of the most effective spokespersons that the Conservative Party had in opposition and in government. However, he was also a strong advocate of higher education, science and the merits of international students and waged a long battle in the Cabinet on their behalf.”

“ What is not so widely known is that he won the argument that international students should be taken out of the migration numbers only to have the Cabinet agreement scuppered by the Home Office which announced something completely different. It is unusual for Ministers tasked with introducing highly controversial reforms to be remembered fondly but David Willetts ticked the boxes in terms of integrity and as a result won respect even among those who were strongly opposed to the government's policies.”