A welcome Cable – Working Men’s College boosted by £650k grant

Published: 09 September, 2010
by TOM FOOT

BUSINESS secretary Vince Cable told the New Journal he was enjoying working with his Conservative colleagues in the Coalition government yesterday (Wednesday) after making a rare “good news” announcement for the Working Men’s College.

The further education college in Mornington Crescent has won a £650,000 grant from the ­government to help fund a major refurbishment.

The grant follows the with­drawal of more than £4million promised to the college by the Learning Skills Council before its financial collapse last year. 

Mr Cable said: “There was a bit of a disaster when colleges that had started work found the funding was withdrawn. We are trying to put that right with a modest programme.”

He added: “It’s great to be part of something that is unambiguously good news.”

Principal Satnam Gill said he was “very, very pleased”, adding that £1.2million was still required to complete the works.

Conservative Skills and Lifelong Learning minister John Hayes, who joined Mr Cable at the WMC, revealed the pair held “identical views” about education.

When asked whether they both agreed on the decision to slash £800million from their department to bring down the deficit, Mr Cable said: “We both agree that we have to make tough decisions. We don’t have any disagreement about that and in fact we make a very good team.”