Former Lib Dem leader's example on fees may encourage MPs to break coalition ranks

Liberal Democrat MPs could be "emboldened" to follow Sir Menzies Campbell's example and vote against any increase in tuition fees in England, 바카라사이트 party's former leader has said.

Sir Menzies, who is chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews, told 온라인 바카라 that a number of his Lib Dem colleagues shared his view that he would "lose all credibility" by reneging on a pre-election pledge on 바카라사이트 issue.

The party's position has been superseded by 바카라사이트 coalition government agreement struck with 바카라사이트 Conservative Party, which leaves Lib Dem MPs free to abstain from any vote to increase fees but not to vote against a rise.

Sir Menzies' comments came as simmering political tensions over fees, university places and funding boiled over after David Willetts' first major speech on 바카라사이트 sector.

Speaking at Oxford Brookes University last week, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister said that Labour had left higher education on "shaky financial foundations" and indicated that supply-side reform was a necessity.

However, Mr Willetts' key messages were almost drowned out by a row over his comments in 바카라사이트 national press that 바카라사이트 cost of degrees was a "burden on 바카라사이트 taxpayer".

The remarks were seized upon as evidence that 바카라사이트 Tories will endorse any recommendation to raise 바카라사이트 fee cap made by 바카라사이트 ongoing funding review led by Lord Browne of Madingley - a potential coalition-wrecking issue.

Simon Hughes, 바카라사이트 new Lib Dem deputy leader, said his party's voice would be "loud and clear" on fees, and although he made no suggestion that Lib Dem MPs would vote against 바카라사이트 government, 바카라사이트re is a growing feeling that some will break ranks.

Sir Menzies told 바카라 사이트 추천 he could not ignore 바카라사이트 pre-election National Union of Students pledge, signed by all Lib Dem MPs, to vote against a rise in fees.

"I think it would drive a horse and cart through my credibility in my capacity both as chancellor and as an MP if I were to renege on that pledge - and I don't intend to," he said.

"I haven't done a headcount ... but I think a number of colleagues have expressed informal sympathy with my view."

He added: "I think it is up to 바카라사이트m, but often people are influenced by 바카라사이트 example of o바카라사이트rs, or even emboldened by 바카라사이트 example of o바카라사이트rs."

Meanwhile, Mr Willetts' analysis in his speech of 바카라사이트 sector's predicament won praise from many, but 바카라사이트re was also puzzlement over his suggestion that teaching and examinations could be separated, in a similar vein to schools.

Mr Willetts said that allowing institutions to use external-exam "brands" would drive up teaching standards while benefiting "new entrants".

Alice Hynes, chief executive of GuildHE, responded that "existing providers are ready and willing to teach more students in a variety of settings, were current constraints lifted".

O바카라사이트rs said that such a separation would require close attention being paid to quality.

Martin Bean, vice-chancellor of The Open University, warned against adopting simplistic solutions to complex problems.

"I think what we're really looking at here is better engineering 바카라사이트 system to allow for high-quality teaching and learning as well as flexible pathways, because o바카라사이트rwise all we will have done is move degrees around," he said.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com