Veteran campaigner Tony Benn says adult education cuts were the result of the Government getting its priorities wrong rather than a shortage of cash, writes Joseph Lee. He made the comments to University and College Union lecturers at Lambeth College in south London at the weekend. The unashamedly old-Labour former MP and minister, who once said he had left Parliament to spend more time in politics, spoke of how his passion for adult education was inspired by his late wife, an FE lecturer. The Government says a higher proportion of income from adult education needs to come from fees rather than Learning and Skills Council funding. Photograph: Dillon Bryden

Benn speaks out, page 5