MP Evan Harris today criticised Labour MPs who "whitewashed" Gordon Brown's attack on Oxford University over Tyneside teenager Laura Spence, writes Bill Jacobs.

The Chancellor accused the University in general - and Magdalen College in particular - of "scandalous elitism" for refusing the comprehensive school pupil a place to study medicine, despite getting top A-level results.

She was later offered a place at America's most prestigious University, Harvard.

Mr Brown said Oxford had used "an interview system more reminiscent of the old boy network and the old school tie than genuine justice in our society".

The House of Commons Education Committee decided not to examine in detail the individual case of Miss Spence.

The all-party group voted down several attempts by Oxford West and Abingdon MP Dr Harris to include criticism of the Cabinet Minister in its report into access to higher education. Instead, it simply commended Mr Brown for igniting a debate on the issue.

Dr Harris, a Liberal Democrat Higher Education spokesman, made a number of attempts to point out that Mr Brown's remarks were 'inaccurate and misleading' and could deter state school pupils from applying to Oxford.

Dr Harris said: "This was a whitewash. Mr Brown's comments were outrageous, unfounded and ill-judged and disgraceful.

"The refusal of the Govern- ment majority to draw conclusions about the appropriateness or otherwise of Gordon Brown's attack on Oxford, despite this being the cause of the inquiry to do so, is one of the most craven acts of Government backbench fawning ever witnessed."

Dr Harris, who issued his own minority report, also criticised Labour and Tory MPs for failing to condemn cuts in student grants and the introduction of tuition fees for putting off students from poorer backgrounds.