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08/12/2010
Cameron And Miliband Clash Over Tuition Fees
Ed Miliband has been accused of "rank hypocrisy" by the Prime Minister during a Commons clash over tuition fees.
The Labour Leader encouraged ministers to rethink the rise in fees, saying they were "pulling the ladder" away from poorer students and saddling them with huge debts.
However, David Cameron said that no Labour alternative had been offered.
Thursday's vote will focus on raising tuition fees to £9,000, with the £21,000 salary graduate repayment threshold uprated each year in line with earnings from 2016, instead of every five years.
Other concessions on the table include uprating the existing £15,000 repayment inflation level from 2012 allowing part-time students to apply for student loans if they study for a quarter of the year, instead of a third.
In Prime Minister's questions, Mr Miliband said the government was cutting public funding for universities and "loading the cost onto students and their families".
He added "nobody was convinced" by the policy which was "in chaos" with concessions "being rushed out" regularly.
He discussed how the Liberal Democrats were "split four ways" on how to vote. They had originally pledged to oppose any rise in fees before the election.
He also said: "The most sensible thing is to go away, think again and come up with a better proposal.”
However, the Prime Minster fought back saying that Labour had first opposed tuition fees and then introduced them when in office and commissioned the independent Browne review on university funding before attacking its findings – decisions he said "dragged politics through the mud".
Regarding the recent protests, he added that Mr Miliband's idea of leadership was following the demands of the "big crowd of students in the mall".
Referring to Mr Milliband, he said: "He is behaving like a student politician and frankly that is all he will ever be”.
Earlier, Business Secretary Vince Cable said they would "further enhance a reform package which will put higher education funding and student finance on a sustainable footing, improve the quality and viability of our university system, offer more progressive support to those on lower incomes, both while studying in HE and when repaying as graduates, and contribute to paying down the deficit".
(BMcN/KMcA)
The Labour Leader encouraged ministers to rethink the rise in fees, saying they were "pulling the ladder" away from poorer students and saddling them with huge debts.
However, David Cameron said that no Labour alternative had been offered.
Thursday's vote will focus on raising tuition fees to £9,000, with the £21,000 salary graduate repayment threshold uprated each year in line with earnings from 2016, instead of every five years.
Other concessions on the table include uprating the existing £15,000 repayment inflation level from 2012 allowing part-time students to apply for student loans if they study for a quarter of the year, instead of a third.
In Prime Minister's questions, Mr Miliband said the government was cutting public funding for universities and "loading the cost onto students and their families".
He added "nobody was convinced" by the policy which was "in chaos" with concessions "being rushed out" regularly.
He discussed how the Liberal Democrats were "split four ways" on how to vote. They had originally pledged to oppose any rise in fees before the election.
He also said: "The most sensible thing is to go away, think again and come up with a better proposal.”
However, the Prime Minster fought back saying that Labour had first opposed tuition fees and then introduced them when in office and commissioned the independent Browne review on university funding before attacking its findings – decisions he said "dragged politics through the mud".
Regarding the recent protests, he added that Mr Miliband's idea of leadership was following the demands of the "big crowd of students in the mall".
Referring to Mr Milliband, he said: "He is behaving like a student politician and frankly that is all he will ever be”.
Earlier, Business Secretary Vince Cable said they would "further enhance a reform package which will put higher education funding and student finance on a sustainable footing, improve the quality and viability of our university system, offer more progressive support to those on lower incomes, both while studying in HE and when repaying as graduates, and contribute to paying down the deficit".
(BMcN/KMcA)
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27 February 2015
Labour Pledge To Cut Tuition Fees To £6,000
Labour has pledged to cut tuition fees in England to £6,000 if it wins the next General Election. Announcing the pledge, party leader Ed Miliband, said the change would be paid for by reducing tax relief on the pensions of people earning more than £150,000 a year.
Labour Pledge To Cut Tuition Fees To £6,000
Labour has pledged to cut tuition fees in England to £6,000 if it wins the next General Election. Announcing the pledge, party leader Ed Miliband, said the change would be paid for by reducing tax relief on the pensions of people earning more than £150,000 a year.
11 November 2010
Fifty Arrests Over Student Protest Disorder
A total of 50 people have been arrested for disorder in connection with yesterday's student protest in central London. All were taken to various police stations around London and have since been bailed.
Fifty Arrests Over Student Protest Disorder
A total of 50 people have been arrested for disorder in connection with yesterday's student protest in central London. All were taken to various police stations around London and have since been bailed.
10 November 2010
Medical Students Join Tuition Fee Protest
Medical students have today joined the National Union of Students (NUS) and University and College Union (UCU) in a national protest against higher education cuts and planned increases in tuition fees that could leave medical graduates facing debts of around £70,000. The NUS say around 30,000 people are taking part in the protest.
Medical Students Join Tuition Fee Protest
Medical students have today joined the National Union of Students (NUS) and University and College Union (UCU) in a national protest against higher education cuts and planned increases in tuition fees that could leave medical graduates facing debts of around £70,000. The NUS say around 30,000 people are taking part in the protest.
05 November 2010
Medical Students' Academic Debt To Soar
The British Medical Association (BMA) has again warned that UK medical students will be left almost £70,000 in debt under Government plans to allow universities to charge up to £9,000 in tuition fees. Proposals to increase the cap on tuition fees for university education are currently under review following a recent review.
Medical Students' Academic Debt To Soar
The British Medical Association (BMA) has again warned that UK medical students will be left almost £70,000 in debt under Government plans to allow universities to charge up to £9,000 in tuition fees. Proposals to increase the cap on tuition fees for university education are currently under review following a recent review.
12 October 2010
Major Debt Ahead For Medical Students
Doctors’ leaders have warned ministers that increasing tuition fees could result in medical students facing a debt bill of potentially £100,000.
Major Debt Ahead For Medical Students
Doctors’ leaders have warned ministers that increasing tuition fees could result in medical students facing a debt bill of potentially £100,000.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
