Vince Cable’s recent speech to the Universities UK conference was a rare opportunity to hear the Business Secretary’s views on a range of issues affecting higher education.
Mr Cable, who usually leaves discussion of higher education policy to universities minister David Willetts, discussed the struggles within the coalition government over immigration and overseas student recruitment; the prospects of a Labour government lowering the tuition fee cap; and his views on whether Mr Willetts will be moved on from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the next reshuffle.