Lib Dem Conscience
Opposition politicians should never sign pledges in election campaigns, even if it does not look as if they will be in government. Thus the Lib Dems signed up to a pledge to vote against an increase in tuition fees, not least because the party is against fees of any kind. Now they are in government. The money has run out. Fees are going to have to go up. Even Vince says so.
This Blog believes that higher education should be free to all. It also knows the money has to come from somewhere and in the current state of financial penury, there is nowhere for it to come from, other than borrowing which this blog is absolutely against. Sadly therefore, until the economy is sorted out to a sound basis, a better model and with better defined priorities, not only do these fees have to remain, but they have also to go up. The Browne report does offer a fair way forward, essentially geared to ability to pay, which, after consultations and with tweaking, is an improvement on the current deal, both for students and the universities.
The Lib Dems would be wise, if Vince advises it, to support the government of which they are members. To vote against would be just the kind of tokenism which got them into the mess, by signing the ‘pledge’, in the first place.