Universities are hopeful that the appointment of a former vice-chancellor as the prime minister-in-waiting’s chief of staff means that they will have someone fighting their corner in Downing Street, but there are warnings that James Purnell might not be wholly sympathetic to the sector.

Purnell, who was vice-chancellor of the University of the Arts London (UAL) between 2020 and 2024, is expected to serve under Andy Burnham in No 10 when the former Greater Manchester mayor succeeds Keir Starmer as prime minister.

At UAL, Purnell’s time was marked by his policy work on reforming how higher education is funded in England, commissioning London Economics to model several different options for changes to the student finance system.

in 2024, Purnell noted that the current funding model “is not working”, while saying “we need more university graduates”.

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With Burnham appearing keen to focus on alternative pathways to higher education, universities might view Purnell as a sympathetic voice in government.

Karen Stanton, Purnell’s successor at UAL – who worked with him while earlier serving on the university’s council – said he had been “a strong advocate for the wider value that universities bring to civic and cultural life” during his tenure, as well as a supporter of the creative industries.

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The current government announced in July that it will cut funding for creative courses, with institutions such as UAL among those likely to lose out.

“If confirmed, James would bring first-hand experience of both the opportunities and the challenges facing higher and creative education, as well as a solid understanding of the contribution universities make to society, culture and economic growth,” said Stanton.

But Diana Beech, director of the Finsbury Institute at City St George’s, University of London and former chief executive of London Higher, of which UAL is a member, warned that Purnell’s appointment “could cut both ways for the sector”.

“On the one hand, he will be a rare voice in No 10 with direct experience of the pressures facing universities, particularly given his leadership of a specialist institution with limited opportunities for cross-subsidy,” she said.

“On the other hand, his time in higher education was not without its difficulties.”

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During his tenure as vice-chancellor, Purnell had to contend with student protests sparked by the war in Gaza, as well as ongoing industrial action by staff members over pay disputes.

“Those experiences may have left him with a more pragmatic and hard-headed view of the sector and those who work in it,” said Beech. “In this context, understanding universities’ problems is one thing, but choosing to spend personal and political capital on solving them is quite another.”

Before entering the university sector, Purnell served as a Cabinet minister in the Brown government and then went on to hold a series of senior roles at the BBC. He left UAL to become chief executive of international advisory firm Flint, known for its lobbying work.

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“It’s a very broad scope of experience at the highest level – communications, media, policy and running big important and influential organisations,” said Andy Westwood, professor of public policy, government and business at the University of Manchester and a former Labour adviser.

“I think he brings all of this to his understanding of higher education and to government. So I’d suggest that he understands the context for universities extremely well and how they connect to all of these broader organisations and agendas as well as to what a new government might want to prioritise and achieve.”

However, Westwood said, that might not be “as simple as just banging the drum for, or fighting universities’ corner”.

He continued: “I also think he will be familiar enough with some in higher education to ask for their thoughts and involvement in ideas and policy decisions going forward. But he’ll be equally happy to challenge, to ask a lot and to want to drive reform…[That] will, of course, be his priority.”

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helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com