Teather Urges Brent Labour MP's To Vote Against Fees Bill

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 19th Jan 2004

Sarah Teather MP is urging Brent's Labour MP's to say 'No' to fees

Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East has today urged Brent's Labour MP's Barry Gardiner and Paul Boateng to vote against the Government in next week's bill on the introduction of Top-up fees. In an open letter to the two Labour MP's the Brent East MP raises her concerns about the effect that top-up fees will have on students in Brent.

The Liberal Democrat MP is urging the Brent Labour MP's to join around 150 Labour colleagues who are expected to rebel against the Government's proposals. Sarah Teather MP and her Liberal Democrat colleagues will next week vote against the Government's plans to impose top-up fees on students.

The full text of the letters are available on http://www.brentlibdems.org.uk/recentarticles.php

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather 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 up to £30,000. This is totally unacceptable."

"These plans are likely to mean that many of our brightest students in Brent could be put off applying for university because of the fear of debt. 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 learn more about the campaign to scrap tuition fees here http://www.scraptuitionfees.com/

You can read more on Sarah views on tuition fees and her open letters to Brent's Labour MP's here http://www.brentlibdems.org.uk/recentarticles.php