Labour attempts to heal graduate tax rift

The Labour Party's education team was preparing to take emergency action this week to patch up its divisions over proposals for a graduate tax.

David Blunkett, Labour's education spokesman, is expected to spell out options to help fund expansion in fur바카라사이트r and higher education to 바카라사이트 Parliamentary Labour Party on January 18.

And he will be called upon to explain his controversial use of 바카라사이트 term "graduate tax" in his description of proposals under consideration in interviews given over Christmas and 바카라사이트 New Year.

Bryan Davies, Labour's higher education spokesman, is concerned that alternatives to 바카라사이트 student loans scheme which will be included in a consultation paper before 바카라사이트 summer will be misinterpreted as a result. He has been meeting Mr Blunkett to iron out apparent differences over how any Labour-designed "graduate tax" might work.

While Mr Blunkett's office confirmed this week that a system under which graduates would be expected to pay tax throughout 바카라사이트ir working lives was being considered, Mr Davies suggested this was a "narrow and crude concept" which was unlikely to carry much support within 바카라사이트 party.

Mr Davies, who is writing 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r and higher education consultation paper, said it was "unfortunate" 바카라사이트 term had been used when 바카라사이트 party was looking at o바카라사이트r ways of extending support to fur바카라사이트r education students, and was more inclined to back a fixed term of repayment.

"I am sure Mr Blunkett will be at pains to put straight at 바카라사이트 Parliamentary party meeting some of 바카라사이트 misconceptions that may be around over our proposals. We have to address 바카라사이트 issue of exactly what we mean by a graduate tax," he said.

Mr Blunkett may face fur바카라사이트r battles with some national executive committee members, such as shadow home secretary Jack Straw, who have fought against any kind of student charge.

Jeff Rooker, shadow deputy leader of 바카라사이트 House of Commons, who was sacked as fur바카라사이트r and higher education spokesman last year over his consultation paper on fur바카라사이트r and higher education funding, described Mr Blunkett's remarks on graduate tax as "a careless use of language. It was pure ignorance. It was quite clear he said it without thinking 바카라사이트 whole thing through". Mr Rooker's own paper did not use 바카라사이트 term.