Tuition fee pledge exposes Labour's 'chaotic' education policy

27 September 2011

Green Party leader and MP for Brighton Pavilion Caroline Lucas today criticised Labour's announcement of a new policy to cap university tuition fees at £6,000 a year as 'feeble' and 'incoherent'.

Caroline said:

"Ed Miliband's announcement that his party would cap university tuition fees at £6,000 rather than the Coalition's £9,000 is a feeble attempt to persuade voters that Labour will try to be just a little bit better than the Conservatives.

"This is hardly the action of a strong Opposition, and merely serves to expose the gaping holes in Labour's chaotic and incoherent education policy.

"The truth is that it was Labour politicians who got the ball rolling on higher tuition costs, and only now are they realising - too late in the day and in the face of huge public opposition - that prohibitively expensive fees will have a serious impact on the prospects of our young people.

"For a real alternative, Labour should look no further than the UCU's proposal for a business education tax levied on the top 4% of UK companies.

"This would generate enough annually to abolish tuition fees and increase UK investment in higher education - while still keeping the UK's main corporation tax below that of France, Japan and the US."

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Notes:

1. For Labours's announcement see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15050334





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