The Labour manifesto sets out plans to guarantee all young people in schools face-to-face careers advice and support for the transition from school to work.
It seems that this will cost £50m per year. This is not new money; nor will it come from the existing schools budget (which is guaranteed). It will come from the funds in university budgets set aside for bursaries to help young people from poorer families go to university. Tristram Hunt, Labour's point man on schools, is reported as saying:
"What we're essentially doing is putting those funds upstream so young people get the advice earlier, at secondary schools about their options."
It's this kind of sophistry that an expensive school education can buy you. The gist seems to be this: poor students who used to get cash (actually a real discount on a notional fee) will have a chunk of that exchanged for advice (whether they need it or not). Somebody else will get the cash (which is actually money notionally paid by other students as fees). Apparently this is "progressive politics".
Those Vice Chancellors who can spot the thin end of a very considerable wedge at half a mile are not happy. Meanwhile, the VC's trade body, Universities UK, is seeking clarification, and heeding long-standing advice not to be making new enemies at a tricky time.
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