I’m really pleased to see that, despite the current financial pressures, the Lib Dems have restated their commitment to scrap University Tuition Fees. The state of the economy has meant that to keep our plans financially responsible, phasing out fees will take a total of six years, but it will be done in such a way that all students feel some benefit soon.

In the first year fees will be scrapped for final year students, the year which is most painful for students to pay. In the following 2 years, part-time fees will be regulated and fee loans will become available to part-time students. In year 4 free tuition will be extended to all full time students except for the first year of undergraduate study. In year 5 the same will apply to part-time students and finally in year 6 all tuition fees, for first degree students, will be scrapped.

The cost of this will be met by a programme of cuts elsewhere in government, with full costings published along with the Party’s manifesto at the time of the General Election.

 There are two main reasons I think it was important to keep this policy despite the tough economic times we face. First is that fees act as a barrier to people from low income families participating in higher education. A debt of £20k – typical for students leaving Uni – is a much bigger worry to the child of someone on minimum wage than it is for the child of a doctor. 

The other reason is that it is simply wrong for the State to encourage people to get into a lifetime of debt. After they qualify students tend to earn more and pay more tax – these taxes are how I believe Universities should be funded.

With both the Conservatives and Labour believing we should keep tuition fees, it will be an interesting area of difference between the parties at the General Election in the coming year and one I think will benefit the Liberal Democrats.