Scrap Fees campaign taken to UCN by Lib Dems (Andrew Simpson)

Scrap Fees campaign taken to UCN by Lib Dems

April 21, 2005 8:06 AM

Tuition fees would go under LIb Dem plans

Liberal Democrat candidate for Northampton North Andrew Simpson will today highlight the Lib Dem policy of scrapping student tuition and top-up fees when a poster van visits the constituency as part of the national Lib Dem campaign. The van will be met by Andrew Simpson and Chair of UCN Lib Dem Youth & Students (LDYS), Portia Rendall at 9am outside UCN Park Campus.

"Tony Blair and the Labour manifesto said in the run up to the 1997 General Election that they would not introduce tuition fees. They then did" said Andrew Simpson, himself a former student of UCN (previously Nene College). "Labour then went further and introduced top-up fees in the last Parliament. We say that education should be free at the point of delivery and that fees should be met by the state. Tuition and top-up fees are a disincentive for students from less well off families to go onto further study - fees should be scrapped".

Liberal Democrats have already scrapped tuition and top-up fees in Scotland as part of their coalition in Government and are pledged to do so in England and Wales.

Lib Dems propose:

• Scrapping tuition and top-up fees.

• Introducing a maintenance grant of up to £2,000 for students from low income families

Student nurse and LDYS Chair at UCN, Portia Rendall said " Only the Lib Dems are being honest about scrapping tuition fees. The Tories would charge students commercial rates on student loans - meaning an extra 25% cost to most students. It is not surprising that one of the latest polls shows the Lib Dems topping support by people aged 24 and under at 37%".