In 1997,
Labour introduced the present system of tuition fees, claiming that
they would "put higher education on a firm footing for the next two decades." In 2001, they
promised in their General Election manifesto that they would "not introduce top up fees and would
legislate against them. Labour made a similar pledge for Wales in their Assembly manifesto in
2003, a pledge that runs out in 2007.
In 2004, Labour force top-up fees through
parliament, directly breaking this promise.
In 2005, the Lib Dems in the Welsh assembly led
the campaign to defeat the introduction of Top Up fees in Wales. Now, Welsh students, studying in
Wales will be exempt from top up fees when they are introduced next year.
MIDR CYMRU and
the Liberal Democrats are committed to abolishing all student fees, and reintroducing the very
maintenance grants that so many Labour MPs happily claimed while at University.
David
Cameron has just abandoned the Conservatives "opposition" to Top Up fees. It is now left to the
Lib Dems to continue the fight against fees.
WHAT
YOU CAN DO NOW
- Visit www.scraptuitionfees.com and help campaign to abolish fees across the UK, not just
for Welsh students.
- Write to the UK Education Minister, Ruth Kelly at the House of Commons
and the Welsh Education Minister, Jane Davidson at the Welsh Assembly and tell them what you think
of fees.
- Lobby your MP and AM and tell them what you think of fees.
- Join MIDR
CYMRU and help us campaign against fees in Wales and the UK.
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