Conservative MPs have snubbed Liberal Democrat Vince Cable's choice for the new university access regulator.
The Commons business, innovation and skills select committee has refused to endorse Professor Les Ebdon, currently vice-chancellor of Bedfordshire University, as the new director of the Office for Fair Access.
Ebdon, who is also chair of think tank million+, is ministers' preferred candidate for the post.
A spokesman for the Business, Innovation and Skills department said business secretary Vince Cable "remains of the view" that Ebdon is the right candidate.
But in a report following a pre-appointment hearing last week, the influential select committee said they were "not convinced" by Ebdon's descriptions of "the root causes of the obstacles to accessing universities".
The committee's report said: "While he demonstrated an all-round understanding of widening participation, we were not convinced by Ebdon's descriptions of the root causes of the obstacles to accessing universities.
"Therefore, we have to question his evidence in respect of two of the criteria for selection, namely 'promote the strengths of the arguments in face of opposition' and 'communicate persuasively and publicly, with excellent presentational stills'.
"We are unable to endorse the appointment of Professor Ebdon as the director of OFFA and we recommend that the department conduct a new recruitment exercise."
The committee is made up of five Conservative MPs, five Labour MPs but only one Lib Dem.
One Labour member of the business select committee, Paul Blomfield, said Ebdon was the victim of a "political ambush".
Tory members of the committee voted down an amendment put forward by Labour members which would have endorsed his candidacy.
Blomfield, who is secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary University Group, said: "Professor Ebdon was the victim of a political ambush which had more to do with coalition politics than concern with access to our universities.
"It is students from poorer backgrounds who will suffer from this appalling game-playing.
"Professor Ebdon has a strong leadership experience at the highest level in higher education and a great track record on improving access to university. He would be an effective champion for improving participation from under-represented groups.
"I hope the business secretary will ignore this game-playing, and confirm the appointment."
A spokeswoman for Cable said: "Vince remains of the view that Les Ebdon is the right candidate for the role of director of Fair Access. He will urgently consider the select committee's recommendation and respond shortly."