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Sir Christopher Snowden, the Universities UK president, told UUK¡¯s annual conference today: ¡°As we approach the election, we can probably expect more discussion about visas and the likelihood of proposals for further restrictions, reflecting the public paranoia over immigration.¡±

And Quintin McKellar, University of Hertfordshire vice-chancellor, raised the issue of student visa policy and immigration in a question to Vince Cable, the business secretary, after his speech to the conference last night.

¡°We do have an issue not just within universities but in the whole of the United Kingdom in terms of having essentially quite a xenophobic population,¡± Professor McKellar said at the conference, held at the University of Leicester.

Demonstrating some of the hazards of speaking at a conference when the press are present, Professor McKellar was later grilled by reporters eager for him to expand on his comments.

Sir Christopher said: ¡°We need to win recognition of the enormous contribution overseas students make to the UK. They are a huge benefit to the UK and this deliberate misrepresentation of them as representing a burden on UK society needs to be dispelled once and for all.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com