As I remember it we were both involved in Labour’s attempt to introduce performance element to funding, were both supportive of the attempt (OBVIOUSLY me a little more mildly) and I for one was frustrated by even the small marginal funding impact (although, of course, marginal funding is important) not being introduced.

There is an issue about how lesser privileged people get into universities, in particular, but much of that solution must be earlier in the education system. That doesn’t absolve universities of their particular responsibilities though.

I suspect that a politically clever solution will marry a performance element with a clearer approach to university course preparation responsibilities that will dampen some of the reasonable downsides identified.