Heat is on over hike in tuition fees

OLDHAM MP Michael Meacher is making a stand against a hike in university tuition fees.

Some 22 Labour members, have signed up to a National Union of Students (NUS) pledge to vote against any rise.

Tuition fees look set to become a key battleground at the next general election, with campaigners and students fearing there could be a hike whatever the outcome.

An independent review into the student funding system, which could pave the way for higher fees, began in November.

The review, led by former BP boss Lord Browne, will not report back until after the election.

But both Labour and the Tories have refused to pre–empt the outcome of the review, despite calls for them to state their position before the country goes to the polls.

About 50 MPs of all parties, and a further 150 prospective parliamentary candidates, have now signed the pledge, the NUS claimed, including 22 Labour MPs, 20 Liberal Democrats and two Tories.

As well as a promise to vote against any hike, the pledge also calls on MPs to put pressure on the Government to introduce a fairer alternative to top–up fees.

Former Government minister Michael Meacher, MP for Oldham West and Royton, said: “I signed it because I think that the current threshold of £3,000 is already high enough for many low–income families.

If it was increased that's going to exclude large proportions of potentially able university recruits.”