UK against Top-Up Fees

A cornerstone of New Labours education manifesto in 2001 was that there would be no Top Up Tuition fees in the course of the current parliament. The result has been that they will be introduced in 2006, and the start of the next parliament.

Disregarding this blatant contempt for the people of the UK, the concept of Tuition Fees will only prove divisive and counter-productive in the long term. Many students will be left with debts of up to 21,000 on graduation, and others studying medicine, veterinary science and suchlike (with courses that can last up to seven years) could end up with debts approaching 60,000 by the end of their course.

As well as setting a terrible example in a country already struggling with mounting debts, one thing that we definitely do not need is a decrease in people willing to study for jobs in the public sector, where the motivation is more towards making a difference rather than making money. With greater debts, more people will be forced to turn their backs on public services in order to avoid considerable financial difficulties. There is no justifiable logic for making it more difficult for people to better themselves.

Higher fees for elite universities such as Oxford and Cambridge will only serve to make them less accessible to less well-off students, and act as the first step down the road towards privatisation of Higher Education. 3,000 a year is a lot of money for a lot of people.

I urge everyone who believes that the highest quality education is something that everyone - regardless of their background, class or social and financial standing - has an equal right to, to sign up to this Petition and register with the government that this is one step too far.

Whether or not this latest change to the system will affect you or your direct family, there will be those close to you who will be affected, be they your children, nephews and nieces of future grandchildren.

Its not too late to make a difference. This bill has not been passed yet, and the hope still remains that enough Labour backbenchers will vote against the motion in order to block its path.

This is Democracy in Action, and Your Voice Matters.