A-level crisis has had a major side effect on political/media mood around universities: govt's previous focus on talking about need to reduce numbers going into HE has been superseded (for time being, at least). Suddenly, focus is on calls for HE expansion/extra funding.

Post-algorithm, the lines for media/Labour to follow in response to any govt agenda to reduce numbers going into HE are even more obvious: which kinds of young person, from which social groups/type of school, are going to have their access to university reduced?

Post-algorithm, suddenly there are much bigger political risks for the govt in implementing policy/using rhetoric that can be perceived as "threatening young people's futures", or in appearing indifferent to the differing impact of education policies on different social groups.

Still huge unknowns around financial impact of A-levels crisis on unis, and govt may still use it to drive agendas around "low value" courses etc. But this type of rhetoric becomes a lot harder for ministers to engage in. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/minister-looking-which-groups-dont-enter-he-doesnt-matter