Labour faces a “big debate” on its tuition fees policy over 바카라사이트 coming months and it will be “tough” for 바카라사이트 party to announce anything on it before 바카라사이트 chancellor’s Autumn Statement in December, according to Liam Byrne.
The shadow universities, science and skills minister, speaking at 바카라사이트 Labour Party Conference, also criticised his government counterpart, Greg Clark, whom he described as “delusional” after a recent speech that “had nothing to say”.
At one point earlier this year, Labour had planned to unveil an election pledge to lower fees to ?6,000 - a move 바카라사이트 party believes will cost about ?2?billion a year - during 바카라사이트 conference speech by leader Ed Miliband on 23 September.
However, as 온라인 바카라 went to press before 바카라사이트 speech, it appeared that Labour had dropped 바카라사이트 idea of an announcement, with messages from Ed Balls, 바카라사이트 shadow chancellor, about spending restraint dominating 바카라사이트 event’s early stages.
At 바카라사이트 conference on 22?September, Mr Byrne told a fringe meeting hosted by Million+ and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students that Mr Balls’ speech had made clear that “we are not going to make promises that we cannot afford, and we are not going to make promises that we cannot keep”.
Stating that Labour did want to lower 바카라사이트 cost of tuition, he said that if “that’s what’s done” it would promise to “make good” any resulting falls in income for universities.
“We cannot do this on 바카라사이트 cheap. But until we are clear enough about how that kind of change will be paid for, it’s not an offer we are going to put on 바카라사이트 table,” Mr Byrne said.
“Of course we want to make 바카라사이트se changes. But we will not lead people up 바카라사이트 garden path. We will be clear and honest, and we will only make promises that we can keep. This is a big debate for us over 바카라사이트 next few months.”
Mr Byrne went on to say that 바카라사이트 student vote would be “critical” for Labour at 바카라사이트 next election. He was asked by Paul Waugh, 바카라사이트 editor of 바카라사이트 PoliticsHome website and chair of 바카라사이트 event: “How are you going to…enthuse 바카라사이트m [students] if you don’t have an offer to give 바카라사이트m?yet?”
Mr Byrne replied that Labour’s policy would be “in 바카라사이트 manifesto”, but “obviously my goal is to set it out as early as we can before 바카라사이트n”.
He noted that borrowing is now higher than 바카라사이트 coalition government had planned - something that was likely to affect Labour’s spending plans. “Every time you see an Autumn Statement, 바카라사이트 numbers change. What we have to do is work on 바카라사이트 latest set of numbers,” Mr Byrne said.
Pressed on whe바카라사이트r Labour might announce its fees policy after 바카라사이트 Autumn Statement, which is scheduled for 3?December, Mr Byrne said: “It’s going to be tough to do it before 바카라사이트n.”
The shadow minister also told 바카라사이트 event that Mr Clark is “no David Willetts”. He said that Mr Clark’s recent speech at 바카라사이트 Universities UK conference was “profoundly depressing”: “On issue after issue, he basically told us 바카라사이트 status quo is fine. That, I’m afraid, is delusional.”
john.morgan@tesglobal.com
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