NUS demand clarification on tuition fees

by Emily Hewett

The National Union of Students (NUS) has asked deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to keep the Liberal Democrats’ promise of voting against rising tuition fees.

In an open letter to Liberal Democrat leader Clegg, the NUS demanded clarification on the Government's stance on the future of Higher Education fees.

During the election campaign Clegg targeted the student vote by pledging to oppose any attempt to remove the cap on tuition fees.

Along with more than 500 Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidates, Clegg signed the NUS Vote for Students pledge.

Aaron Porter, NUS President-elect, wrote: "The faith students and their families have placed in the Liberal Democrats must now be repaid.

"You campaigned with a clear and welcome manifesto pledge to support students and reduce their burden of debt.

"Your MPs signed a pledge, a pact between candidates and their constituents, to vote against a rise in tuition fees and to press the government for a fairer alternative."

'Fairer alternative'

The Lib Dems initially said that they would oppose any raising of the cap and permanently phase out tuition fees - which currently stands at £3,225 per year - over a six-year period.

"The new Foreign Secretary William Hague [has] suggested that Liberal Democrat MPs could abstain on a vote on the future of student fees," added Porter.

"Given the individual compact they made with their electorate through the Vote for Students pledge, it is incumbent on them to oppose any attempt to raise the cap on fees and to press the government for a fairer alternative."

He added: "Now that Liberal Democrats are in government and that Vince Cable has been placed in charge of Department for Business, we hope that you will now be able to make good on your commitments to work to introduce a fairer alternative to higher fees."

Vince Cable has been put in charge of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) where he looks set to take responsibility for universities policy.

Cable, along with every other elected Liberal Democrat MP signed the NUS Vote for Students pledge.

Both Cameron and Clegg recorded messages for the NUS conference prior to the election. David Cameron said: “Top-up fees and the tuition fees have to stay”.

Alternatively, Nick Clegg said: “We will resist, vote against, campaign against, a rise in tuition fees.”