Toby Young ideal man for universities regulator, says Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson has condemned criticism of the appointment of free school pioneer Toby Young to the board of the new universities regulator, describing him as the "ideal man for the job".
In a tweet, the Foreign Secretary insisted Mr Young would bring "independence, rigour and caustic wit" to the role.
The Government has defended the appointment to the board of the Office for Students (OfS), arguing the writer's "diverse experience" will be beneficial in the role.
Ridiculous outcry over Toby Young. He will bring independence, rigour and caustic wit. Ideal man for job
-- Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 3, 2018
There have been questions raised about the Department for Education's descriptions of Mr Young's experience.
The Guardian newspaper said it had been told on Monday that Mr Young's "diverse experience includes posts" at Harvard and Cambridge.
But Mr Young later clarified that while he did teach students at the institutions, these were not academic roles.
"I taught undergrads at Harvard and Cambridge and was paid to do so but these weren't academic 'posts' and I've never made that claim," he told The Guardian.
In a statement, the DfE later said: "Toby Young's diverse experience includes time at Harvard and Cambridge as well as co-founding the successful West London Free School.
"This experience will be vital in encouraging new providers and ensuring more universities are working effectively with schools."
Among those to speak out against Mr Young's appointment was Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), who said: "If this organisation was to have any credibility it needed a robust board looking out for students' interests.
"Instead we have this announcement sneaked out at new year with Tory cheerleader Toby Young dressed up as the voice of teachers and no actual representation from staff or students."
There can only be one reason for appointing @toadmeister to the board of the new Universities Regulator, and that is to promote Tory party policy on universities. He is otherwise wholly unqualified for the job.
-- (((FrancesCoppola))) (@Frances_Coppola) January 1, 2018
In reply, Mr Young tweeted:
I've worked at Harvard and Cambridge, am a visiting fellow of the University of Buckingham, a Fulbright Commisssioner and, as the co-founder of four free schools and director of @theNSN, have some experience of innovation in the public education sector. https://t.co/lBeXctATYB
-- Toby Young (@toadmeister) January 1, 2018
Toby @toadmeister Young despises working class kids who try to make good through education. That's why the Tories have put him on a body responsible for regulating higher education.
-- Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) January 1, 2018
Mr Young replied to the tweet:
I've helped set up four state schools that when full will educate nearly 2,000 children. At the secondary, >33% are eligible for the pupil premium and we reserve 20% of the places at the primaries for same. What have you done to help working class kids Paul? https://t.co/9UhjvPHLT4
-- Toby Young (@toadmeister) January 1, 2018
In an interview for the Spectator Coffee House podcast, Mr Young said he was "tangentially qualified" for the role, due to his work on areas such as widening participation in higher education and setting up new state schools.
He suggested the reason there had been "such a fuss" about his appointment was "because I'm an outspoken Tory and defender of the Government's education reforms".
