Universities UK also warned that Mr Cable risked sending the wrong message.

BBC: Vince Cable reveals a strategy to cut science funding

Mr Cable denied putting out a contradictory message to Mr Clegg, who had hailed the coalition's success in cutting net migration "by a third" in his speech.

BBC: Clegg backs 'security bonds' as he sets out immigration stance - BBC News

"Disney is trying to inappropriately use its ownership of ABC to extract excessive and unreasonable terms for its cable channels -- terms that would add hundreds of millions of dollars in costs for Time Warner Communications and its cable customers, " Time Warner said in a message to its Los Angeles subscribers.

CNN: McCain speaks out on Time Warner-ABC flap