Has the PM run up the white flag over Ebdon? In his 2008 party conference speech, David Cameron promised that "the election of a Conservative government will bring - and I mean this almost literally - a declaration of war against those parts of the educational establishment who still cling to the cruelty of the 'all must win prizes" philosophy and the dangerous practice of dumbing down." Professor Les Ebdon, the man Vince Cable intends to put in charge of university admissions, is the very embodiment of the liberal educational orthodoxy Mr Cameron was targeting. If the Prime Minister meant what he said in Opposition, he would veto this appointment. Instead, he has run up the white flag to Nick Clegg. A strident critic of the Government's university policy, Prof Ebdon is obsessed with widening the social mix of students at our best institutions. He is a staunch defender of so-called Mickey Mouse subjects and in evidence to a parliamentary committee - which subsequently refused to endorse his appointment - he said that he was prepared to fine universities or bar them from charging the maximum tuition fees to whip them into line. Unsurprisingly, our best universities view the prospect of such a man overseeing admissions policy with dread. So should the Prime Minister. Indeed, just a few days ago his aides said that he was "opposed to this character being appointed" and that the stand-off between him and Mr Cable had become "quite an important battle." Not that important, it seems. Mr Cable - whose departmental bailiwick really should not extend to universities anyway - will have his way. Our finest academic institutions will in future have to jump through Professor Ebdon's hoops and take account of an applicant's socio-economic background in addition to academic qualifications. Forget educational excellence; this is all about social engineering. Downing Street said on Monday that Mr Cameron was powerless to block the appointment. His abject retreat will fuel the growing resentment among Conservative MPs over the way the Lib Dems are calling the tune in the Coalition. Such pusillanimity on the Prime Minister's part is dispiriting, not least because there is a suspicion that Mr Cable was being deliberately provocative by selecting Prof Ebdon in the first place. The future of our universities is too important for such party political posturing. Mr Cameron has always insisted that the Coalition will govern in the national interest: it cannot be solely about pacifying the Liberal Democrats. He has impressed most when he has been bold in his decisions - there is time yet for boldness over Prof Ebdon. Otherwise, his timidity could cost him dearly.