New student fees bill must be stopped says Teather

5.21.32pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 8th Jan 2004

Sarah Teather is campaigning against Government plans to introduce top-up fees

Commenting on today's publication of the Government's Bill to introduce top-up fees for students, Sarah Teather Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East said: "This Bill must be defeated. The Government are trying to make access to higher education dependent on the ability to pay, when it should be on the ability to learn.

"Fear of debt is a major obstacle for students wanting to take up university places. A Barclays Bank survey has predicted that by 2010 students could face debts of upto £30,000. This is totally unacceptable."

"These plans are likely to mean that many of our brightest students in Brent would no longer be able to afford a university entrance fees. It makes a mockery of the Government's claim to be widening opportunities."

"Muslim students in Brent who I have spoken to are particularly concerned about the proposed changes. Though the loans proposed may not incur excessive interest rates (which is contrary to Islam), there remains a strong cultural reaction against debt. I am concerned that these changes may discourage very bright students in Brent from taking up the opportunities they deserve."

"Rather than placing the burden on students starting out in life - many of whom will be taking up socially very valuable, but relatively poorly paid, jobs such as teachers and junior NHS staff - we should ask those earning super salaries to pay a little more through a 50p tax rate on their earnings over £100,000 each year. This would raise enough to scrap all tuition fees and reintroduce grants of up to £2000 for students from low income backgrounds, as well scrapping charges for long-term care for the elderly and cutting council tax. Surely this would be a fairer way forward?"

You can help us scrap tuition fees by visiting http://www.scraptuitionfees.com/

You can also learn more about Sarah's views on tuition fees here http://www.brentlibdems.org.uk/article.php?id=2