Tuition fees rise is OK with Watkins

LIB-DEM candidate Elwyn Watkins has declared he would have voted for the increase in tuition fees.

Labour demanded to know his position on the controversial rise, from £3,000 to up to £9,000 a year, which looks set to split the Liberal Democrats in a Commons vote today.
Mr Watkins will stand in a by-election for Oldham East and Saddleworth after shamed Labour MP Phil Woolas was stripped of the seat for lying about him. Mr Watkins lost May’s election by 103 votes.

He signed the National Union of Students pledge before the General Election saying he would vote against any increase in tuition fees in this parliament.

But Mr Watkins told the Chronicle: “We are in a coalition. If we had the majority in government we would not be having tuition fees but we had to compromise with the Conservatives. If I had been elected in May, I too would have had to compromise.

“I would go with the coalition and vote for it. We need to come together for the sake of the country.”

Mr Watkins pointed out that it was Labour who originally brought in tuition fees against their own manifesto.

And he said the Lib-Dems had managed to get concessions, such as students not repaying their fees until they are earning £21,000 rather than the current £15,000.

He added: “Part-time students won’t have to pay a thing up front, which is the first time that’s happened and the majority of Oldham students are part-time. The first one to two years will also be free for the poorest students. We have managed to get these concessions.”

Student protests have seen riots in London and demonstrations are expected to continue across the country today.

Lib-Dems are divided on the issue. Labour say the proposals to potentially treble tuition fees is a broken promise from Lib-Dems who pledged not to increase them.