It is not only immoral to write people off like that, it doesn't even make economic sense because in a world of change, learning and adapting is the key to success for individuals and the whole country - and we still haven't gone far enough. So where there are barriers to learning and opportunity our job is to take them down for all people. Durham hits back Durham University's vice-chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman hit back swiftly. He accused ministers of being badly briefed on the issue and stressed the efforts Durham had made to attract students from across all backgrounds. Durham is a world-class university.
Admission is competitive and is based on academic performance and the ability to achieve.
We are encouraging people from everywhere to take up these opportunities. Sir Kenneth sent ministers the university's own briefing papers on the efforts it was making to widen its appeal to students. Tories join the row Labour Party sources stressed later that Mr Prescott's speech was not intended as an attack on Durham or any other university. And he deliberately repeated themes first outlined in a speech on Tuesday, about people from all areas of the country sharing values. Shadow education secretary Theresa May criticised Mr Prescott's stance.