Greater Manchester MPs pledge to vote against tuition fees increase

10.17.00am GMT Thu 28th Jan 2010

John hold the pledge sheet with students.

A group of Greater Manchester MPs has vowed to vote against any increases in tuition fees in the next parliament as fears over student debt continue to rise.

Lib Dems John Leech (Manchester Withington), Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove), Mark Hunter (Cheadle) and Paul Rowen (Rochdale) have pledged to vote against any rise in tuition fees in the next parliament, amid growing concerns that the review of tuition fees due to be completed after the upcoming general election will lead to a further increase in fees.

Since the introduction of top-up fees four years ago, students have had to face the prospect of leaving university with an average student debt in excess of £20,000.

The MPs welcomed a group of students from the London School of Economics to Westminster this month, to discuss their concerns about the debt they are facing.

John Leech MP said:

"Education should be a right, not a privilege - if you've got the ability to go to university you should be able to irrespective of wealth. Students leaving university today are facing daunting levels of debt that they are struggling to repay at a time when finances are already overstretched.

"The Lib Dems remain the only party committed to abolishing student fees. If we want the brightest and the best to be going on to higher education we can't afford to be frightening them off with the prospect of yet more debt."

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Notes to Editors:

1. Push survey, August 2009, 'New students should expect to pay over £23,500': www.push.co.uk/this-month/in-the-news/Student-debt-survey-2009.htm

2. Photos attached:

a) John Leech with LSE students

b) MPs (l-r) John Leech, Paul Rowen, Andrew Stunell, Mark Hunter, with LSE students