Controversy over Tory tuition fee promise
Labour politicians are tonight refuting suggestions from the Conservatives that it is possible to pay for the abolition of tuition fees by reversing Government plans to send half of all young people to university.
In a speech at the University of London today, Iain Duncan Smith described the introduction of tuition fees in 1997 as a “tax on learning” and said that Conservative plans, which included scrapping the Government’s newly set up Office for Fair Access, could save £485 mn which could then be reinvested in education.
Higher Education Minister Margaret Hodge has insisted that the Conservatives’ plans would result in 100,000 fewer places being available for students at Britain’s universities and would result in the cutting of up to 6,500 lecturers.
The Liberal Democrats have joined with Labour in criticising the Tory proposals, with Lib Dem education spokesman Phil Willis today stating that the Conservatives had failed to make any provision for poorer students in their policy announcement.
“There is not one penny for grants and maintenance, which is one of the main bugbears in Higher Education, particularly for poorer students,” he told Channel Four.
Mr Duncan Smith’s speech, entitled “A Fair Deal for Everyone”, criticised the Government’s record on healthcare provision and law and order as well as its higher education policies.
The Tory leader set out key policies expected to be published the party’s next election manifesto, such as the introduction of “patient passports” which are designed to increase choice in the field of healthcare provision.
