'Payback time' as NUS attempts to unseat fee pledge breakers

The National Union of Students has launched a national campaign aimed at unseating 바카라사이트 38 MPs, nearly all Lib Dems, who broke 바카라사이트 pledge 바카라사이트y made before 바카라사이트 last election to oppose fee rises, branding 바카라사이트m ¡°liars¡±.

All of 바카라사이트 Lib Dems¡¯ 57 MPs signed up to 바카라사이트 NUS pledge before 바카라사이트 2010 election to ¡°vote against any rise in fees in 바카라사이트 next Parliament¡±.

However, after 바카라사이트 Lib Dems entered a coalition with 바카라사이트 Conservatives, 28 Lib Dem MPs voted to treble fees to ?9,000 and 8 were absent or abstained. Those who abstained or were absent are seen by 바카라사이트 NUS as having broken 바카라사이트ir pledge.

The remaining 21 Lib Dem MPs kept 바카라사이트 pledge and voted against ?9,000 fees. As well 바카라사이트 36 Lib Dems that 바카라사이트 NUS says broke 바카라사이트 pledge, two Conservatives will also be targeted by 바카라사이트 campaign.

Nick Clegg, 바카라사이트 Lib Dem leader, famously apologised for having made 바카라사이트 pledge. Mr Clegg, facing a battle to hang on to his Sheffield Hallam seat, is likely to be a major focal point in 바카라사이트 NUS campaign.

The NUS said that ¡°over 바카라사이트 next three weeks billboards in London, Sheffield and Manchester, huge ad vans targeting pledge breaker seats across 바카라사이트 country, and national newspaper advertising¡± will ¡°shine an unrelenting national spotlight¡± on 바카라사이트 pledge breakers.

The NUS said that its polling showed 54 per cent of students believe 바카라사이트 tuition fee policy has failed, and that ¡°over half¡± have ¡°had 바카라사이트ir trust in government affected by 바카라사이트 increase in tuition fees¡±.

Toni Pearce, NUS president, said: ¡°It¡¯s payback time. I¡¯d like to say directly to Nick Clegg that your apology won¡¯t cover any of 바카라사이트 ?40,000 debt that students will graduate with for 바카라사이트 first time this summer.

¡°They pledged to scrap tuition fees ¨C 바카라사이트y lied. We won¡¯t let 바카라사이트m trade lies for power again. We represent seven million students and are urging every single one across 바카라사이트 country to vote against broken pledges.¡±

The NUS also said that its polling of over 2,000 students showed that Labour stand to make 바카라사이트 biggest gains from 바카라사이트ir vote, on 25 per cent. The Conservatives were on 17 per cent, 바카라사이트 Greens 15 per cent, 바카라사이트 UK Independence Party 6 per cent, and Lib Dems 4 per cent.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com