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| Toby Young resigns from university regulator | Toby Young resigns from university regulator |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Toby Young has resigned from the board of a new university regulator after criticism over his previous controversial comments. | |
| Writing for the Spectator, Mr Young said his appointment had "become a distraction" from the "vital work" of the Office for Students. | |
| The right-wing journalist unreservedly apologised for his past comments which were "ill-judged or just plain wrong". | |
| A petition calling for his dismissal gathered almost 220,000 signatures. | A petition calling for his dismissal gathered almost 220,000 signatures. |
| Mr Young faced a backlash after his appointment was announced, with critics attacking his suitability for the role. | |
| Unreserved apology | |
| In his resignation article, Mr Young said "the caricature" drawn of him during the past week was "unrecognisable". | |
| He wrote: "I am a passionate supporter of inclusion and helping the most disadvantaged, as I hope my track record of setting up and supporting new schools demonstrates. | |
| "But some of the things I said before I got involved in education, when I was a journalistic provocateur, were either ill-judged or just plain wrong - and I unreservedly apologise." | |
| The Office for Students has been established to hold universities to account on issues like vice chancellors' pay and free speech on campus. | |
| It has powers to fine universities which fail to meet the required standards. | |
| Mr Young thanked Prime Minister Theresa May and the former education secretary Justine Greening for their support. |