Does Anyone Understand The Tory Policy on Tuition Fees? (Kenilworth and Southam Liberal Democrats)

Does Anyone Understand The Tory Policy on Tuition Fees?

December 4, 2004 4:51 PM

Richard Allanach, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Rugby & Kenilworth, has responded to a letter in the Kenilworth Weekly News attacking Lib Dem policies on student tuition fees, and praising Tory ones.

He said:

"The letter writer confuses old Tory policies with new ones. The old policy was truly a conservative one - retain tuition fees and do not increase numbers of young people going to university - and was at least understandable.

But in September the Tories changed their policy, and now say they (like the Lib Dems) would abolish both existing tuition fees and the new top-up fees Labour are introducing. The cost of this would be £1.2 billion. Lib Dems are clear that we would fund this using part of the additional revenue gained by increasing tax on those with incomes over £100,000 a year.

But how would the Tories pay for it?

But how would the Tories pay for it? I don't understand how, and nor does the independent Higher Education Policy Institute, which includes the former vice-chancellor of Warwick University Sir Brian Follett among its members. Writing about the Tories' plans on their web site they say: 'The financial effects need further explanation ... It is not possible for students to pay less ... and the taxpayer simultaneously to pay no more.' "

Kenilworth and Southam Liberal Democrats