I had thought that the government had done all the damage anybody possibly could do to damage our higher education system but Lord Mandelson has proved me wrong. The government is now to put pressure on our better (which in the Labour Party's mind means "exclusive") universities to introduce a two-tier grading system for more popular courses. Undoubtedly a move to increase the number of pupils from poorly performing state schools to attend good universities this will only make the system worse.

First, it is unlikely to actually to bring ANY positive effects at all. Why would those from poor families want to apply to university when this government introduced tuition fees, introduced top-up fees, abolished grants and and destroyed and dismantled our state education sector. They fear being saddled with debt for a long-time to come; they will feel patronised and insulted by this move and they will feel like outsiders in an exclusive university world which this government has secretly fostered.

This move will polarise student bodies in our good universities. Those from the higher-grade tier will resent others being offered lower grades for being poor. Those from the lower will resent the background and superior education of the higher. Indeed, it is likely that without the proper educational formation offered at our independent schools and other good state schools they will be able to succeed?

Our good universities are, therefore, going to be forced to accept students of a lower standard (however deserving their cases) onto their courses. Our future lawyers, medics and engineers will all be of a lower standard. Such political interference in our higher education system is totally unacceptable. If I need to defend myself in court do I want the best lawyer I can get or do I want a mediocre one so I can have the mushy, warm feeling inside, knowing that I'm giving a poor boy a chance? This principle extends through the medical, architectural and engineering professions.

Yet again we have a case of the government preferring to take action to fiddle the figures regardless of the consequences. It is more concerned with getting the poor into good universities (because the figures look good for "social mobility) than in giving them the support whilst they are there. If they can't keep up they will drop out or be sent down.

When I was at the University of Edinburgh I would have been considered poor to those of my acquaintance with exceptionally large allowances from their parents. Being but a humble middle-class boy I could not hope compete with that and very few people could. Would I have been been considered "poor" by Lord Mandelson? I very much doubt it.

If the government really wants to encourage those from poorer backgrounds to get into good universities then the way to do it is to restore standards and discipline in our state schools. The answer is real reform, not short-term. stastistical magic tricks.