University rich list row – Christmas or April Fool for Labour?

I’m at a Prime Ministerial school visit in Dulwich. David Cameron arrives, knowing that his No. 10 team has spent a busy morning jumping up and down on David Willetts.

The cerebral minister for universities has been guilty of thinking aloud again and what a thought he had.

Not only would philanthropic enterprises be able to add to university places by paying full international student “club class” prices for extra “off quota” places, but individuals would be allowed to as well.

One Ed Miliband aide I saw this morning wasn’t sure if it was Christmas or an April Fool. No. 10 saw it less cheerily and issued a statement in David Willetts’ name clarifying, as they say, the minister’s thoughts.

Rich folk buying places for their Jemimas and Jeremys is not the “progressive” image David Cameron seeks and not the anniversary announcement he was looking to mark one year (tomorrow) from the Coalition’s birth.