Vince Cable

As Secretary of State at the department responsible for higher education, every issue affecting HE that should cross his desk does, and it is for this reason that he just squeaks in to the top ten. But Vince Cable has shown a concerning lack of interest in higher education over the past few years, despite as a former academic having spent more time in universities than most in government. It was his duty to pilot the undergraduate tuition fee increase through Parliament in 2010, despite having promised in opposition not to raise fees. A bitter public debate ensued and the experience left him visibly weary and apathetic about HE. Although lucky to be flanked by a competent Minister in David Willetts for much of the parliament, a stronger champion of universities holding his office might have proved a more effective opposition to Theresa May and so secured a higher ranking on the Power List.