51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

The headline about King's College London's response to the proposed 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College London-Imperial merger ("King's in power bid after talk of merger", THES , October 25) was misleading.

The story clearly stated that King's has no immediate plans for merger, but, like other colleges in the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of London, may seek the power to award its own degrees. This is hardly a "power bid". There is a place in the capital for a high-quality institution with about the same number of students as Harvard 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, and King's aspires to that position.

Arthur Lucas
Principal
King's College London