Well, this is obviously delighting the reactionaries like John MacKenzie who appear to believe that unemployment is a better option than a university education, except for an elite minority who can afford to buy a place into Oxbridge. Personally, I believe that denying a third of all people who want a university education the opportunity to have one is scandalous - and if the ultra-elitist Conservatives get into power it will only get worse. Bloody Thatcher all over again!

Despite Mr MacKenzie's fatuous comments, university is not an easy option. Students have to meet strict criteria of achievement or they're out. Nor is it easy for parents who have to fund their offspring. My own son is in his second term at uni and we have discovered that his student loan nowhere near covers his costs, with the result that we will have to find somewhere in the region of £20,000 over his 3-year course to make up the shortfall - something that is putting a huge strain on our finances. Unlike Mr MacKenzie, however, we belive in education, not just as vocational training, but as an important part of personal development. We also believe that it should be available on demand, like the health service - but that's another story......