Commenting on the resignation of Toby Young, the University
and College Union (UCU) said it was right he has resigned, but
that he never should have been appointed in the first
place.
The union said the appointment of as education secretary
represented an opportunity to look again at the whole make-up of
the Office for Students
board. Ucu said the board needed proper representation from
staff and students.
UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: ‘Nobody comes out of
the Toby Young farce well. Of course it is right he has resigned,
but he should never have been appointed in the first place. This
whole sorry episode poses serious questions about the
appointments to the board of the Office for Students.
‘The furore surrounding Young has glossed over the fact
that there is no real representation of staff or students on the
board. Yet there is room for someone on a regulatory board from
HSBC of all places, and also tax avoiders Boots.
‘We very much welcome the message from the new
education secretary that he is looking forward to
working with staff in universities and colleges. If he is serious
about working with the sector rather than against it, then
looking at the make-up of this board should be one of his
immediate priorities. We need to see proper representation from
staff and students on the board.’
