Get real, Sir Richard 4

The headline about King's College London's response to the proposed University College London-Imperial merger ("King's in power bid after talk of merger", THES , October 25) was misleading.

The story clearly stated that King's has no immediate plans for merger, but, like other colleges in the University of London, may seek the power to award its own degrees. This is hardly a "power bid". There is a place in the capital for a high-quality institution with about the same number of students as Harvard University, and King's aspires to that position.

Arthur Lucas
Principal
King's College London