Freedom, Fairness & Trust - a piece on student tuition fees
October 25, 2004 12:51 PM
By Stephen Williams in Epigram, the student newspaper at Bristol University
By Stephen Williams in Epigram, the student newspaper at Bristol University
Stephen Williams, prospective Lib Dem MP for Bristol West
I came to Bristol University from a poor South Wales comprehensive and being brought up by a widowed mother had never known prosperity. But coming to Bristol set my life in a new direction and gave me the freedom to enjoy a professional career and to enter politics.
My financial background and my future earning potential didn't affect my university choice. All that mattered was that I was intelligent enough to study history at a top rated university. But since 1997 Labour has abolished grants and commenced charging fees for courses. Next year fees will vary between different universities and courses. Students will weigh up the level of fees and debts they will incur, against their preferred course at the best location where it can be studied. If Bristol loses just one potentially brilliant medic, put off by an expensive course in an expensive city, society and the individual will have both lost out.
Liberal Democrats believe that "top up fees" are unfair. Higher education should be free to all those who are able to benefit from it. As the benefit is shared by society, it should be funded by taxation. Instead of fees we would introduce a new higher rate of tax of 50% on incomes in excess of £100,000. This would raise more money than fees as well as being a fairer system of funding.
This is also a matter of trust. At the last election Labour said that they had no plans to introduce top up fees. When they legislated for them earlier this year Bristol West's Labour MP gave out muddled messages as to whether she was for or against them and then abstained on every vote. Students deserve better than this and I hope you will trust the Liberal Democrats to stand up for your future at the next general election.
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