Chancellor attacks Oxford admissions.

The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, has said it is "an absolute scandal" that a pupil from a state comprehensive was refused a place at an Oxford College - only to win a scholarship to Harvard. His remarks about the case of Laura Spence from Monkseaton Community High School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, came during a speech to the Trades Union Congress. Mr Brown said she had been denied a place at Oxford due to "an old establishment interview system". Oxford University has said it finds his remarks "deeply disappointing". The Conservatives accused Mr Brown of "ignorant prejudice". Mr Brown told a TUC reception celebrating 30 years of equal pay legislation that he and the Education Secretary, David Blunkett, "both take the view that it is an absolute scandal" that Laura, with 10 A* GCSE exam passes, "finds an old establishment interview system denying her access to the first university of her choice, though she was worthy of a scholarship to Harvard". Laura, who intends to study medicine at university, is expected to do equally well in her A-level exams. After being turned down by Magdalen, she became one of only 10 British students to win Harvard scholarships - worth, in her case, Ј65,000. The revelation raised questions over Oxford's policy of trying to recruit more state school pupils. The Downing Street spokesman said the Chancellor was making the point that background should not be as important as talent. The government wanted excellence to be recognised in all parts of the community and wanted the best universities to open their doors to all parts of the community. He said it was not for the government to determine admissions procedures at Oxford. But it was "clearly regrettable" if talented people from this country were unable to develop their talents here.