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TOP-UP FEES VOTED THROUGH IN TEETH OF LIB DEM OPPOSITION
April 1, 2004 12:00 AM
The House of Commons voted for university top-up fees last night, in the teeth of strong opposition from the Liberal Democrats.
David Rendel MP kept his long-standing pledge to local people by voting to scrap all tuition fees - a vote that was lost by 227 to 338. The 3 Labour MPs in Berkshire - Martin Salter, Jane Griffiths and Fiona McTaggart - voted for higher fees.
Mr Salter voted "yes" despite his statement in the House of Commons on 8 January that the Secretary of State "is asking an awful lot in asking us to play fast and loose with our own manifesto, on which he, I and every other Labour MP was elected".
Commenting, Mr Rendel - who is also the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Higher Education - said:
"This is a deeply disappointing result. Labour MPs have voted through a poll tax on learning - a measure that even Margaret Thatcher could not stomach.
It is also disappointing that Berkshire's three Labour MPs voted for £3000 fees. They have broken a manifesto pledge and further damaged public confidence in politics.
"I will continue to fight university tuition fees at every opportunity."
ENDS
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