Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees

1. The rise in fees is only necessary to pay for the dramatic cuts in university teaching budgets

The Spending Review announced significant cuts in University teaching funds – expected by many Vice-Chancellors to be between 75 and 95 per cent. Settlement letters have not yet been sent to universities but the Government has been clear that funding will now focus on the teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. All funding for arts, humanities, and social sciences will need to be made up through tuition fees – the effective privatisation of universities like LSE, Soas and Goldsmiths.

A new report, ‘Universities at risk – the impact of cuts in higher education spending on local economies‘, places 49 of England’s 130 higher education institutions at ‘very high’, ‘high’, or ‘high-medium’ risk of serious impact from government funding cuts to university teaching. They could, according to UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, “leave them vulnerable to a merger or, in the worst-case scenario, closure.”

Although the Government has said that universities would need permission to charge more than £6,000, analysis today from the University and College Union shows universities will have to charge £7,000 just to break even. Some institutions – such as the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Central School of Speech and Drama – will have to charge closer to £8,000.

2. The tuition fees rise will leave students of all backgrounds worse off.

Yesterday’s analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies showed that students from all backgrounds would be significantly worse off if fees were set at the £7,500 level.

Although no student will need to pay back a penny until they start earning around £18,000 in today’s prices, the rise in fees is likely to deter students from applying in the first place. Seven in ten students have said that they would be put off by fees of £7,000 while peer reviewed research has shown that working class students are 46 per cent more debt averse than the average. But it seems this won’t bother the Government. As Next Left reveals, in a 2003 Times op ed, Education Secretary Michael Gove wrote:

“Some people will, apparently, be put off applying to our elite institutions by the prospect of taking on a debt of this size. Which, as far as I’m concerned, is all to the good.”

3. Bankers make a smaller contribution than public sector workers

Although, according to the IFS, the proposed system to repay tuition fees is “progressive”, bankers will end up paying back less than public sector workers. As the Guardian today points out:

“the big picture is that moderate earners will be stung to the tune of 9p in the pound on income tax, while the wealthiest graduates will be free to clear their debts rapidly”

A progressive graduate tax, of the kind proposed by the NUS rather than caricatured by David Cameron yesterday, would ensure that all graduates earning above a determined threshold would pay back for the same amount of time without any of the debt deterrence.

4. The proposals appear to mean a 64% cut in bursary funds

There is currently £412 million provided to the sector for the purposes of widening participation and fair access in English higher education. The Browne Review recommended that future widening participation initiatives must have funds equal to, or greater than, the current level of investment but the Government has only announced plans for a £150m scholarship scheme.

These scholarships are intended to pay for the first year of tuition fees for 18,000 of the poorest students. But it’s unclear how many will get that far given that Education Maintenance Allowances are being scrapped and AimHigher is also for the chop.

5. A vote for a fees hike will further undermine trust in politics

Labour did not shine itself in glory by promising in their 2001 manifesto that they would “not introduce ‘top-up’ fees and have legislated to prevent them” before doing precisely the reverse.

But the Liberal Democrats went even further during the 2010 general election by campaigning hard on the issue, especially on campuses around the country. A party election broadcast in the days before the election outlined that there would be “No more broken promises“, Nick Clegg told the National Union of Students’ annual conference that, “We will resist, vote against, campaign against, a rise in tuition fees”, and – as widely reported – every Lib Dem MP signed the NUS pledge to “vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament and to pressure the government to introduce a fairer alternative”.

No more broken promises? We’ll find out tonight.

http://twitter.com/falseecon/status/12806244842610688 False Economy

Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw (via @leftfootfwd)
http://twitter.com/yorkierosie/status/12806414774833153 yorkierosie

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/i9xLKg
http://twitter.com/cjsherlack/status/12806424107155456 carrie JS

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/hazico_jo/status/12806971535134720 Hazico_Jo

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/professor_dave/status/12807531369865216 David K Smith

Great article. RT @yorkierosie: RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/i9xLKg #loveHE
http://twitter.com/tomblenkinsop/status/12807665247850496 Tom Blenkinsop

RT @FalseEcon: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw (via @leftfootfwd)
StephenH

You can add UCL to the >£8000 list. This was the estimate used by Malcolm Grant UCLs provost in his weekly newsletter to staff..

quote: ‘It is not yet possible to calculate the level at which UCL would need to set a fee in order simply to make up for loss grant, because no figure has been given for the reduction in additional funding for clinical and laboratory programmes, but our level of loss looks likely exceed £8,000 per UK-EU student by 2014-15.’
http://twitter.com/richardangell/status/12807999043141632 Richard Angell

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
vi__sa

There are so many lies in this article, I don’t know where to start. Will just point out one thing – only EXCEPTIONAL courses will cost up to £9000. All courses will not cost triple by default – please stop misleading people.
http://twitter.com/joehmusic/status/12808872955744256 Joe Hesketh

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/vforvortex/status/12809165042880512 Sophie B-Clarke

RT @FalseEcon: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw (via @leftfootfwd)
http://twitter.com/lynseybarber/status/12809216515383296 lynseybarber

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/fionaradic/status/12811830707617792 Fiona Radic

RT @FalseEcon: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw (via @leftfootfwd)
http://twitter.com/robw91/status/12812202490728448 Robert Williamson

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/thatgeoffchap/status/12812297265221633 Geoff White

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/ucloccupation/status/12813305525571585 UCL Occupation

RT @leftfootfwd: @ucu Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/ucu/status/12813615371386880 UCU

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/helenembrooks/status/12813676276879360 Helen Brooks

RT @ucu: RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/severincat/status/12813754517426176 Disagreeable Weasel

RT @leftfootfwd: @ucu Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/tomashwhite/status/12813996662984704 Tomas White

RT @leftfootfwd: @ucu Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/prformativcontr/status/12814003717808128 Performativcontra

RT @leftfootfwd: @ucu Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/toonarmy2003/status/12814084760150016 Craig Singleton

RT @ucu: RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/misscay/status/12814185452797952 Christina McDermott

University Union Activist Hat On Time: Five reasons why everyone should oppose the trebling of student fees. http://ow.ly/3mnjG
http://twitter.com/thebrianduggan/status/12814203131797504 Brian Duggan

RT @leftfootfwd: @NUSUK @AaronPorter Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/nemesisrepublic/status/12814281707884546 Nemesis Republic

RT @leftfootfwd: @ucu Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU #solidarity
http://twitter.com/ucloccupation/status/12816049976123392 UCL Occupation

RT @leftfootfwd: @UCLOccupation Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
Chris

vi__sa, I’m afraid you’re wrong. There’s a forthcoming review by cambridge academics expected in the coming weeks, and it looks like their going to say at least 40 of our elite institutions are going to charge £9000 fees.

These changes benefit none but the very very poorest, who are likely to be failed by the removal of EMA and AimHigher, and those from very affluent backgrounds who won’t need to take the loan.
http://twitter.com/darkestangel31/status/12819937689075712 Loraine

RT @leftfootfwd: @ucu Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/richdavidson/status/12820028961329152 richdavidson

RT @leftfootfwd: @FalseEcon Hi guys, please RT: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/futureisnowstuc/status/12820053804195840 STUC young workers

RT @leftfootfwd: @ToUChstoneblog Hi guys, please RT: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/angelapateman/status/12820086985330688 Angela Pateman

RT @leftfootfwd: #Demo2010 Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/essexsu/status/12820160129798144 Essex Students Union

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/jkblacker/status/12820271413067776 Josh Blacker

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/simonjlock/status/12820343307632640 Simon Lock

RT @leftfootfwd: @FalseEcon Hi guys, please RT: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/gillalexander/status/12820643191988224 gillalexander

RT @leftfootfwd: @UCLOccupation Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/rickytwotins/status/12820741091237888 Rick Dutton

RT @leftfootfwd: @ucu Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/johnnor/status/12821257082896384 John Nor

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/falseecon/status/12821577380929536 False Economy

.@leftfootfwd Keep up – we have! But we'll RT it again cos it's very good: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/jasonreich/status/12821853882032128 Jason Reich

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/captainmeg/status/12822002737872897 Megan Evans

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/selia_lahugeea/status/12822161907523584 Mohamed Ansar

RT @leftfootfwd: @UCLOccupation Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
KPJ

Dear vi__sa
I work at London South Bank University. A post-92 university with a widening participation agenda, who are nowhere near to the top of the university tables. As of yesterday we are looking at a minimum of £7200/year in our department to break even, and it is likely that if many others are around the £8-£9k mark then we will follow suit. If you think it will only be EXCEPTIONAL courses, then forget it. Remember when fees were introduced, pretty much all universities charged the maximum amount – and the one or two institutions who tried to undercut appeared cheaper and lower quality – and suffered as a result.
http://twitter.com/tigerjohnny/status/12822394209050624 John Hayes

RT @leftfootfwd: @ucu Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/kiahita/status/12823301902573569 Kia Hitaru

RT @leftfootfwd Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/john_gillibrand/status/12824322322206721 John Gillibrand

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of #tuition #fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://yestothearts.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/5-reasons-to-oppose-the-trebling-of-fess/ 5 reasons to oppose the trebling of fess | Defending the Arts and Humanities in the UK

[...] http://bit.ly/fbaJQU [...]
http://twitter.com/shamikdas/status/12824607119642624 Shamik Das

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of #tuition #fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/drcchilvers/status/12825123933396992 Chris Chilvers

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of #tuition #fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/difficultfaze/status/12825650268213250 Difficult Faze

RT @leftfootfwd: #Demo2010 Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/kieranajp/status/12825799820316673 Kieran Patel

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/cliveleworthy/status/12826059976216576 Clive Leworthy

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of #tuition #fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/daphne_moon/status/12826501913247744 Mrs Crane

RT @leftfootfwd: @UCLOccupation Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/hessianpepper/status/12826525325856768 Hessian Pepper

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of #tuition #fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/domfurniss/status/12827202982780928 Dominic Furniss

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/i9xLKg
http://twitter.com/jameskillin/status/12827508877561856 James Killin

RT @leftfootfwd: @ucu Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/theodmoor/status/12828209972256768 The Moor

RT @UCLOccupation RT @leftfootfwd: @UCLOccupation Hi guys, pls RT this: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/robadamson/status/12828236799016960 Rob Adamson

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of #tuition #fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/coabreak/status/12829219591553024 CoalitionBreakdown

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/captainska/status/12829443496083456 Captain SKA

RT @leftfootfwd: @FalseEcon Hi guys, please RT: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/tales77/status/12829709767286784 cat hanvey

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of #tuition #fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/saggydaddy/status/12830228128727040 Saggydaddy

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of #tuition #fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/warwickucu/status/12830480898457600 Warwick UCU

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/k4zric/status/12830860965318657 Karen Williams(Daly)

RT @leftfootfwd: #Demo2010 Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/darrenjohnsonam/status/12831746756190209 Darren Johnson

Excellent article outlines five key arguments against fee rises @leftfootforward http://bit.ly/eVh4v7 #solidarity #occupation
Mark Stevo

Bankers only make less of a contribution if you ignore all that income tax they’re paying.
http://twitter.com/teresadelaney/status/12831904550100993 Teresa Delaney

RT @DarrenJohnsonAM: Excellent article outlines five key arguments against fee rises @leftfootforward http://bit.ly/eVh4v7 #solidarity # …
http://twitter.com/karmjitk/status/12833472540311552 Karmjit Kaur

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of #tuition #fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/daphne_moon/status/12837892795666432 Mrs Crane

Good luck to all those out protesting #demo2010: http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/12/five-reasons-to-oppose-the-trebling-of-fees/
http://twitter.com/wikio_uk/status/12838026291970048 Wikio UK

(Left Foot Forward) Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees : http://wik.io/B4HV3
http://twitter.com/lizjarvisuk/status/12838094847877120 Liz Jarvis

RT @Wikio_UK: (Left Foot Forward) Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees : http://wik.io/B4HV3
Ash

This is the argument I can never quite fathom (taken from that Gove article):

“Incurring such a relatively small debt to pay for the huge economic benefit conferred by proper higher education is a fantastic deal. Over a lifetime, the direct financial benefit in higher earnings is around £400,000. Those who attend our best universities can expect to earn even more. Borrowing £21,000, at preferential rates, to secure twenty times that sum, is an offer you’d have to be a fool to turn down.”

Now if graduates typically earn an extra £400,000 over their lifetime, presumably they typically pay much more tax, make a much bigger contribution to the economy, and are much less reliant on state spending than non-graduates. The national piggy bank must surely swell by £100,000-plus as a result. So if there *are* people ‘fool’ enough to turn down the offer of a degree costing, say, £40,000, the Government is foolish not to foolproof the system by making that £40,000 investment itself.
Lolitafatjo

It’s not just tuition fees they’ll have to pay back either. Unless an undergraduate can live on fresh air in a cardboard box for three (or more) years. What about the loans? How much is needed to support a student living away from the parental home for three years. I’m afraid I have no idea. I’d put aside £5,000 in a high-interest account several years ago thinking that would cover her for at least a couple of years.
Oh well there’s always Spearmint Rhino.
http://twitter.com/roehamptonsu/status/12839915083538432 RoehamptonSU

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/ellinson/status/12841156777877505 Lucy Ellinson

RT @FalseEcon: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw (via @leftfootfwd)
http://twitter.com/hermionedaae/status/12843976092557312 Kathryn Felton

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
Julian

I don’t know whether a graduate tax is the answer but the Browne Review, commissioned by the Labour government, concluded it was “unworkable”. Report at http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/docs/s/10-1208-securing-sustainable-higher-education-browne-report.pdf See Section 7.1 p51.
http://twitter.com/ukfpi/status/12859381527871489 AdamFlude &Comrades

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of #tuition #fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/king_matt1st/status/12864443813728256 matt king

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
TMN

“Bankers only make less of a contribution if you ignore all that income tax they’re paying.”

Which we can, as the whole point of charging students for their education is to avoid paying for it out of income tax.
Colin

Fraud is when you obtain money by deception, eg get elected to Parliament with false promises. Liberals could have joined Labour to keep their promises and avoid higher fees. MP’s have gained office, well paid, high pensions, others have to pay more, fraud – one gain at the lost of another by deception. Students should take all Lib MP who for higher fees to court.
Mark Stevo

You can ignore it if you like, that won’t change whether or not their contribution to the state has increased more than that of public sector workers.
http://twitter.com/anthonypainter/status/12886249131999233 Anthony Painter

@jonwalker121 Figure two in this blog shows why Margot James is wrong. *Every* income group (decile) will lose. http://bit.ly/ifIQnF
http://twitter.com/jonwalker121/status/12890746566737920 Jonathan Walker

RT @anthonypainter: Figure two in this blog shows why Margot James is wrong. *Every* income group (decile) will lose. http://bit.ly/ifIQnF
http://twitter.com/touchstoneblog/status/12895377992720384 ToUChstone blog

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU
http://twitter.com/dntbreakbritain/status/12896169030062080 Don’t Break Britain

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw #dontbreakbritain
http://twitter.com/lewieashman/status/12896810473365504 Lewis Broad-Ashman

RT @DntBreakBritain: RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw #dontbreakbritain
http://twitter.com/unitelondon/status/12898812649537536 Don’t Break Britain

RT @DntBreakBritain: RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw #dontbreakbritain
http://twitter.com/kevinwarnes/status/12956255597367296 Kevin Warnes

RT @DarrenJohnsonAM: Excellent article outlines five key arguments against fee rises @leftfootforward http://bit.ly/eVh4v7 #solidarity # …
http://twitter.com/cleverlyplanned/status/12964975010119680 Sophie M

@fearfulpenguin This is interesting, but a bit biased (though what isn't one way or another!). http://bit.ly/e02tmJ
http://twitter.com/kevinwarnes/status/12975690580234240 Kevin Warnes

“@DarrenJohnsonAM: Excellent article outlines five key arguments against fee rises @leftfootforward http://bit.ly/eVh4v7
http://twitter.com/kevinwarnes/status/12976254613458944 Kevin Warnes

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/12/five-reasons-to-oppose-the-trebling-of-fees/
David Salinger

At the time of the 2001 manifesto the phrase ‘top-up fee’ meant the difference between the amount of government support for a course and what it really cost a university to run the course. In that sense, Labour did not introduce ‘top-up fees’. Only to the extent that people were under the impression that the promise meant that fees would not rise, should you argue that the manifesto promise was not kept.
http://twitter.com/radiocontroldan/status/13002588861497345 Dan

@daimaro http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/12/five-reasons-to-oppose-the-trebling-of-fees/
http://twitter.com/statuses/status/ Mysteriously Unnamed

@daimaro http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/12/five-reasons-to-oppose-the-trebling-of-fees/
http://twitter.com/victoriagemmill/status/13015584539156480 Victoria Gemmill

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw
http://twitter.com/shoegirl1881/status/13176499414765568 KimPetrie

RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/i9xLKg
http://www.liberal-vision.org/2010/12/10/what-the-public-thought-of-the-tuition-debate/ Liberal Vision » Blog Archive » What the public thought of the tuition debate

[...] Will Straw writes in Left Foot Forward: “The tuition fees rise will leave students of all backgrounds worse [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/12/look-left-10-12-10/ Look Left – Clegg, Cable and co. kill students’ futures | Left Foot Forward

[...] the morning of the vote, Left Foot Forward set out five reasons for opposing the trebling of fees: the rise is only necessary to pay for the drastic cuts in [...]
http://twitter.com/hazico_jo/status/14014040183414784 Hazico_Jo

RT @DntBreakBritain: RT @leftfootfwd: Five reasons to oppose the trebling of fees http://bit.ly/fbaJQU by @wdjstraw #dontbreakbritain
Mark

The idea that bankers make a smaller contribution than public sector workers by paying off their debts quicker is only correct if you don’t account for the time value of money. Greater access to cheap debt is obviously an advantage for those earning less.
J

This talk of whether or not a graduate tax would be better is a distraction and the NUS should never have got themselves dragged into it. We can afford to provide free university education, just as Scotland and Wales can. The government just don’t want to for ideological reasons.
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/economic-madness-gbp9k-tuition-fees/ The economic madness of imposing £9k tuition fees | Left Foot Forward

[...] only is the government’s tuition fees policy wrong and unnecessary, but it is being incompetently implemented. Share | Permalink | Comments: 4 [...]
http://twitter.com/all_thats_left_/status/121662791059902464 All Thats Left

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J
http://twitter.com/reisclef/status/121663771948228608 Richard Coleman

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J
http://twitter.com/rolfesm/status/121664317467803648 Marilyn Sanders

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J
http://twitter.com/gillbudgell/status/121668761563574272 Gill Budgell

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J
http://twitter.com/mackers1969/status/121685236403806208 Mark Mackley

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J
http://twitter.com/simontgraham/status/121685260877578240 Simon Graham

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J
http://twitter.com/erazman/status/121686495504506880 E Azicate

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J
http://twitter.com/darrenpaffey/status/121701922259476480 Cllr Darren Paffey

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J
http://twitter.com/alison58/status/121723377487593473 Alison Tarrant

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J
http://twitter.com/mellenoweth/status/121752338988937216 Carol Clarke

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J
http://twitter.com/bobirving99/status/122573123253051392 Bob Irving

If debt is such a bad thing Dave, why are we saying to young people: graduate from uni with £30k debts, don't worry: http://t.co/m2wtgx0J