London mayoralty frontrunners clash on international students

The leading candidates to be Mayor of London have clashed over higher education after incumbent Sadiq Khan claimed that his Conservative rival was “against foreign students”.

Tory Susan Hall, a member of the London Assembly, accused Labour’s Mr Khan of “making things up”.

In an interview with Times Higher Education as he attempts to secure an unprecedented third term at City Hall, Mr Khan sought to put clear water between himself and Ms Hall on higher education.

“It’s a source of pride for me that no other city in the world has as many international students as we do, and it’s a source of pride to me that no other city in the world has as many universities in the top 40 as we do – and long may that continue,” Mr Khan said.

“The Conservative Party are against immigration; the Conservative candidate is against foreign students coming to London – that’s a big difference between her and I.”

Recent polls have put Ms Hall as close as three points behind Mr Khan. But another recent survey found that two-thirds of Londoners thought her social media activity was racist – something she denies.

Her spokesperson said that it was “disappointing that Sadiq Khan, who is already under investigation for dishonesty, is making things up about his opponent”.

“Susan has always supported international students coming to London and has advocated for more immigration to our city. Susan is determined to ensure Sadiq Khan’s divisive and dishonest gutter politics is defeated next May,” the spokesperson said.

In the THE interview, conducted at the recent opening of the Stratford campus of the London College of Fashion, part of the University of the Arts London, Mr Khan warned that the Westminster government’s policies towards international students meant that many prospective recruits were choosing Canada and the US over the UK – which would mean missing out on the “huge benefits” they brought to the capital, both financially and in soft power.

Revenue from international student fees had been vital to universities, which were struggling financially “as a consequence of government policy”, Mr Khan added.

However, Labour is yet to announce its own policy on higher education funding in England, having moved away from its Jeremy Corbyn-era pledge to abolish tuition fees.

Mr Khan said that the party would set out its plans nearer to a general election, but added: “What’s clear, though, is that the last 13 years [of Conservative-led government] have failed, from the troubling tuition fees to some of [the government’s] policies in relation to deterring international students [from coming].”

The London College of Fashion joins UCL East on the former Olympic Park as part of a wider development that received £600 million in support from the mayor. Several branch campuses of UK universities are also opening on this side of the city.

“It’s become a bit of cliché now, but…the centre of gravity is moving east; London is rebalancing,” said James Purnell, UAL’s vice-chancellor.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com