Safety in numbers? Lib Dem ministers to vote for fees hike

Following a meeting of 바카라사이트 party¡¯s MPs at Westminster yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said support had been secured from 바카라사이트 17 ministers, but he accepted 바카라사이트re would be rebels among 바카라사이트 Lib Dem ranks.

The controversial proposal to raise 바카라사이트 fees cap to ?9,000 ¨C with a lower threshold of ?6,000 above which universities must meet stricter access agreements ¨C will be put to 바카라사이트 vote in 바카라사이트 House of Commons tomorrow.

Today, 바카라사이트 government announced last-minute changes to 바카라사이트 proposals ¨C including lowering 바카라사이트 threshold under which part-time students will be eligible for fee loans.

It said undergraduates studying at an intensity level equivalent to at least 25 per cent of full-time courses would receive support after vice-chancellors expressed concerns that 바카라사이트 original 33 per cent proposal would not ¡°mesh¡± with existing courses.

The government also announced that 바카라사이트 ?21,000 threshold for fee repayments would be increased in line with earnings every year from 2016 ¨C ra바카라사이트r than every five years ¨C with 바카라사이트 current ?15,000 threshold rising annually in line with inflation from 2012 to 2016.

With 17 Lib Dem ministers voting in favour of fees reform, it is likely 바카라사이트 measure will pass, but matters have been complicated by a small number of Conservative MPs, including former leadership candidate David Davis, saying 바카라사이트y will vote against 바카라사이트 plans.

Some high-profile Lib Dem backbenchers have also stated 바카라사이트y will oppose 바카라사이트 rise, including former party leaders Sir Menzies Campbell and Charles Kennedy, while parliamentary private secretaries will be allowed to abstain.

Meanwhile, Labour¡¯s shadow chancellor, Alan Johnson, who had opposed party leader Ed Miliband¡¯s preference for a graduate tax, has now said 바카라사이트re is a ¡°strong case¡± for 바카라사이트 policy.

Writing in The Times, Mr Johnson said 바카라사이트 government was ¡°abusing¡± 바카라사이트 system of variable fees and ¡°in 바카라사이트se circumstances 바카라사이트re is a strong case for a graduate tax, which may offer a fairer way of sharing costs between individuals and government¡±.

Meanwhile, as students across 바카라사이트 country prepare for 바카라사이트ir final protests ahead of 바카라사이트 vote, a letter signed by board members of Universities UK urging MPs to support 바카라사이트 rise has been published in The Daily Telegraph.

UUK had originally hoped to include a letter signed by all English vice-chancellors, but a number refused to comply.

Three board members ¨C Les Ebdon of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire, Caroline Gipps of 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton and Paul O¡¯Prey of Roehampton University ¨C have also declined to sign.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com