Oh lord (and lady)

Lord Baker is correct to highlight the chronic underfunding afflicting universities and many will agree with his analysis (Soapbox, THES, June 16). But was he not a Tory MP, secretary of state for education and cabinet member during the "glorious years of Thatcherisim 1979-97" when most of the problems he identifies have their origins? Perhaps he is too modest to put his name forward for the credit he so richly deserves.

Steven M. Shardlow. University of Sheffield.