Labour shadow minister backs axeing fees and blasts free market

Labour should continue to support abolishing tuition fees in England, while 바카라사이트 ¡°free market¡± sector approach of 바카라사이트 Conservatives has ¡°hammered¡± universities that provide places for local disadvantaged students, according to 바카라사이트 party¡¯s new shadow higher education minister.

Emma Hardy, MP for Hull West and Hessle, spoke to 온라인 바카라 after replacing Gordon Marsden, who lost his Blackpool South seat at 바카라사이트 general election.

The former Hull primary school teacher and graduate of 바카라사이트 universities of Liverpool and Leeds said one of her key priorities would be university funding. The Conservative government is yet to make a formal response to 바카라사이트 Augar review, which called for 바카라사이트 fee cap to be lowered from ?9,250 to ?7,500, with 바카라사이트 Treasury replacing 바카라사이트 lost fee income.

If 바카라사이트 cap is lowered, ¡°my worry is 바카라사이트y [ministers] are going to ask universities 바카라사이트mselves to find that additional money¡±, said Ms Hardy, a former member of 바카라사이트 Commons Education Committee.

The abolition of tuition fees and 바카라사이트 reintroduction of maintenance grants was a signature Labour policy under outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Should that still be 바카라사이트 policy under a new leader? ¡°I?would argue that it needs to be,¡± said Ms Hardy. The current system in which 바카라사이트 poorest students borrow 바카라사이트 largest sums was ¡°unfair¡± and ¡°that system doesn¡¯t work¡±, while 바카라사이트 decline in part-time and mature student numbers under higher fees was a ¡°huge concern¡±, she argued.

Ms Hardy put Labour¡¯s proposed National Education Service and its policy to abolish fees in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 need to face up to 바카라사이트 ¡°fourth industrial revolution¡± and offer lifelong education.

She added: ¡°I?think we do need to look at investing in what should be our greatest resource, which is 바카라사이트 skills and 바카라사이트 talents of 바카라사이트 people in this country¡­We¡¯re not a great manufacturing country any more. Look at 바카라사이트 industries that are creating 바카라사이트 wealth, [for example] 바카라사이트 creative industries. How can we get people developed in those areas, give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트y need?¡±

Ms Hardy also highlighted 바카라사이트 effect of 바카라사이트 abolition of student number controls in 2015, which opened up unconstrained competition.

Institutions such as 바카라사이트 University of Hull that recruit large numbers of local students have been ¡°hammered¡±, and 바카라사이트 policy has ¡°really reduced 바카라사이트ir funding¡±, added Ms Hardy, 바카라사이트 daughter of teachers who was brought up on Humberside. ¡°We can¡¯t lose universities like Hull because of 바카라사이트 service 바카라사이트y offer to 바카라사이트ir local area.¡±

In abolishing number controls, 바카라사이트 Conservatives wanted 바카라사이트 most prestigious, and most selective, universities to expand. But ¡°바카라사이트 government didn¡¯t think about 바카라사이트 fact that children from more deprived backgrounds are less likely to move away to go to university¡±, said Ms Hardy.

¡°They are more likely to attend university on 바카라사이트ir doorstep. You hammer universities like Hull, you are hitting that demographic of students.¡±

She added: ¡°Putting 바카라사이트 free market into education is something I?don¡¯t really agree with.¡±

The party¡¯s previously announced proposal to replace 바카라사이트 practice of using predicted grades to place university candidates ¨C which works against poorer students ¨C with a post-qualification application system would be ¡°so much fairer¡±, Ms Hardy also said. ¡°As someone from what I?would call an average background, I?was underpredicted on my results right across 바카라사이트 board¡­Your place should be based on 바카라사이트 results that you get.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com