For those who missed LibDemVoice.org’s coverage over the weekend, here’s a catch-up:
- EXCLUSIVE: What Lib Dem members think about Browne and tuition fees… looking at ‘How would you prefer higher education is funded?’ and ‘Are there any changes to the plans announced to date which would make you more likely to support recommendations based on The Browne Report?’
- Tuition fees – what party members believe Lib Dem MPs should do… looking at whether Lib Dem MPs stick by their manifesto and NUS pledges, how you expect them to vote in the Commons, and which way you personally would vote.
- LDV survey: What impact the Lib Dem tuition fees’ U-turn has had on party members… looking at the impact you think the past week has had on your support for the Coalition, why you think Nick and Vince have changed their minds, and what affect it’s all had on your support for the party.
There are a couple more results still to be published in the next day or two — you can check out all the results of LibDemVoice.org’s surveys of party members here.
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The targeting of journalists is a real threat to democracy
Café with a view #20: Bedfords Park Nature Discovery Centre
Stanley Unwin is now remembered by a blue plaque at his old home in Long Buckby
north easterly
Peter Davies
Judy Abel
One Comment
There are 4 good reasons for not supporting the increase in graduate fees:
1) it’s the wrong thing to do. Increased fees will encourage prospective student to follow courses and careers that lead to finacial gain only (eg law, accountancy) at the expense of less financial rewarding but just as useful pursuts (eg scientific reseach, teaching). It will discourage those who believe they cannot aford to pay from going to university.
I had an example of this only yesterday. A retired shepherd told me his grandson (whose father is a postman and mother a housewife) had been told by his school that he should try for Oxbridge. Because of the fees the grandson is considering not going to university at all. What a waste of talent. To say people are not affected by fees and loans is just plain wrong.
The government can it appears find money for defence, but not this.
2) Politically the party desperately needs to be seen to be different from the Tories. A stand up row and refusal to surrender here would give enormous benefit. The Tories seem to be winning every battle. They owe us one. (Well- several actually.)
3) Signing a pledge amongst great publicity and then walking away from it is just not on. The political damage done here is imense, incalculable. We will throw away the last suggesiton that the Lib Dems are new and different.
4) There will be enormous damage done to the actavist base, both in terms of membership numbers and morale. Why the foot soldiers will be willing to give up their time and money in future when fundamental commitments are given away like this I do not know. It’s impossible to defend this on the doorstep.
So, both principle and political advantage seem to require a vote against the policy (for backbenchers) and absention, (as permitted by the colaition agreement) for members of the government.