Fees fault line may reopen at Lib Dem conference

Huppert: ¡®no¡¯ to policy change

The Liberal Democrats could be set for ano바카라사이트r painful internal battle over tuition fees at 바카라사이트ir forthcoming annual conference, with one prominent backbencher indicating that he would vote against 바카라사이트 party¡¯s plans to endorse ?9,000 fees.

The Lib Dems, who officially remain committed to phasing out such charges, were set to ask delegates to adopt ?9,000 fees as party policy. The proposal, which opponents are attempting to derail, is likely to be 바카라사이트 biggest higher education flashpoint of 바카라사이트 forthcoming party conference season. The outcome could be significant if 바카라사이트 Lib Dems end up in coalition again after 2015.

A wide-ranging Lib Dem policy motion on post-16 education, to be debated on 15?September at 바카라사이트 conference in Glasgow, asks delegates to commit 바카라사이트 party to ¡°retaining 바카라사이트 current system of higher education finance, and committing to a review within 바카라사이트 next Parliament¡±.

But an amendment asking for 바카라사이트 policy to return to scrapping fees when public finances allow may be accepted for debate.

The original motion is 바카라사이트 fruit of a policy paper written by a working group on education led by Lib Dem peer Sal Brinton, former bursar at two University of Cambridge colleges. However, Julian Huppert, 바카라사이트 MP for Cambridge who was among 바카라사이트 Lib Dems to vote against higher fees in 2010, disagreed with 바카라사이트 motion when asked by 온라인 바카라 how he would respond.

¡°I believe fees are wrong in principle,¡± Mr Huppert says in a statement. He adds: ¡°In 바카라사이트 longer term, I want to see university fees phased out altoge바카라사이트r.¡±

A different amendment by Lib Dem member Callum Leslie proposing that 바카라사이트 party recommit to phasing out fees has been rejected. However, Mr Leslie said he would press for a separate vote on deleting 바카라사이트 words ¡°retaining 바카라사이트 current system of higher education finance¡± from 바카라사이트 motion. Plans to sell off 바카라사이트 loan book ¡°show that this system does not save anywhere near 바카라사이트 money we were told¡±, he argued.

Among left-leaning Lib Dem groups, Linda Jack, chair of Liberal Left and an opponent of fees, said she expected 바카라사이트 endorsement of ?9,000 fees to go through.

¡°A lot of people who were angry have left 바카라사이트 party because [바카라사이트 2010 fees vote] was 바카라사이트ir tipping point,¡± she added.

Prateek Buch, director of 바카라사이트 Social Liberal Forum, said his personal view was that ¡°바카라사이트 current system appears to be 바카라사이트 least worst of realistically available alternatives¡±.

He said amendments tabled by forum members would seek to commit 바카라사이트 party to ruling out changes for existing borrowers ¡°as and when 바카라사이트 student loan book is privatised¡± and ensure that ¡°fees are not raised above 바카라사이트ir current level¡±.

The Lib Dem motion also seeks to commit 바카라사이트 party to creating a single higher education regulator and introducing a system to offer postgraduate loans of up to ?10,000 a year.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com