2004 press releases

NEW STUDENT FEES BILL MUST BE STOPPED

>Commenting on today's publication of the Government's Bill to introduce top-up fees for students, Lewes MP Norman Baker said:

"This Bill must be defeated. The Government are trying to make access to higher education dependent on the ability to pay, when it should be on the ability to learn.

"These plans are likely to mean that many of our brightest local students would no longer be able to afford a university education. It makes a mockery of the Government's claim to be widening opportunities."

"Rather than placing the burden on students starting out in life - many of whom will be taking up socially very valuable, but relatively poorly paid, jobs such as teachers and junior NHS staff - we should ask those earning super salaries to pay a little more through a 50p tax rate on their earnings over £100,000 each year. This would raise enough to scrap all tuition fees and reintroduce grants of up to £2000 for students from low income backgrounds, as well scrapping charges for long-term care for the elderly and cutting council tax. Surely this would be a fairer way forward?"

Norman Baker MP is calling on local Labour and Tory MPs to join the Lib Dems in Parliament in opposing the Government's plans in Parliament: "Whatever concessions the Government claim they are making, top-up fees are wrong in principle, especially of the variable variety. They cannot be made right by any amount of fiddling around the edges."

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