Dismay as north of England universities miss out on share of £54m talent fund

Exclusive: MP presses minister for explanation as thinktank says omission undermines innovation in the north

Ministers have been accused of undermining innovation in the north of England after five universities from the south-east were awarded £10m to hire overseas talent – with none selected between Birmingham and the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.

Twelve universities across Britain have been handed a share of the government’s £54m global talent fund, which Labour said would “put rocket boosters” under its innovation plans.