In other words, "let's have the same system as the U.S." Unfortunately, if the U.S. situation has proved anything, it's that THIS DOES NOT WORK. If the govt. continues to cut funding to UK HE, and they are forced to go this route, the inevitable result is that a first-rate education will only be available to the wealthy (regardless of "talent") and everyone else will have to make do with overworked and underpaid instructors in large modules with little support. This will not be the fault of Oxford or the Russell Group, as they are just trying to find ways to keep their institutions afloat. This is the Conservatives, through and through, who may make much noise about Widening Participation, but ultimately care only about the wealthy and upper-middle-class, and would happily see the vast majority of working Britons get completely screwed out of a decent education. Ironically, in seeking to foster "growth," "competition," and "excellence," this will only produce stagnation, decline, and mediocrity, just as it has in the U.S. There, a very small number of universities provide outstanding education to the elite, and the vast majority graduate functional illiterates (I know, as I have taught in several). How many times does the same lesson need to be learned? Scandinavian countries have high taxation, excellent education for all, and a fair distribution of resources. Result=a happy, healthy, productive populace and a stable economy. The U.S. has low taxation, lousy public education, and concentration of wealth. Result= luxury for the few and misery, poverty, and the everyday threat of violence for the many (including university students), as well as periodic recessions and depressions. When will the Conservatives and UK voters learn from the lessons that are staring them in the face every day? Never, apparently.