Commenting ahead of the forthcoming vote in Parliament on Thursday on the a) proposed lifting of the higher education tuition fee cap and b) the proposed loan and repayment package, local MP Andrew George said:
“This is a Coalition Government not a Liberal Democrat Government. I always said the Coalition with the Conservatives was the least worst option available.
“If we were in power we would do as we did in Scotland, get rid of Tuition Fees. But we cannot deliver all of our manifesto policies. The Coalition is a compromise between ourselves and the Conservatives.
“Our manifesto had over 300 policy commitments in it, not just one on HE fees. So it is inevitable that we cannot honour all of those pledges.
“Vince Cable has done a magnificent job, putting together a repayment package. Which is more than the one left to us by the Labour Government. He has put his attempt to maintain party unity above his own public image. He should be respected for that.
“Some of the compromises we have been asked to agree have been more than I could accept, and so I have both voted against the Government and proposed alternatives.
“On this, I will support the more acceptable loan and repayment package proposed. But I will vote against any lifting of the fee cap.”
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